HELENA — The Montana Lottery released proposed rules that would cover sports gambling in Montana, and wants the public to weigh in on the proposal.
Under the proposed rules, anyone wishing to participate in sports gambling would have to establish a sports wagering account with the Montana Lottery.
The accounts would be managed through electronic devices, and would allow players to participate at licensed facilities.
Players would also be able to set limits on the accounts, including deposit and spending limits, or time-based limits, to encourage responsible gambling.
And residents can choose to file a form with the Lottery to prevent an account from being created in their name.
The proposed rules would open sports wagering to any business in Montana that is licensed by the Lottery, or is managed or owned by an individual with a gambling operator license.
The state estimates there are currently 1,400 licensed operators who could apply for a sports wagering license.
An individual or business may not offer sports betting if its owner has been convicted of a felony or a gambling related offense, or has financial ties to a gaming supplier.
There is a one time non-refundable application fee of $50.
The public comment period will be open for a minimum of 30 days. A public hearing is planned for Monday, October 28th at the Montana Lottery headquarters in Helena.
The draft rules, available on the Montana Secretary of State’s website here , deal with licensing, retail commission and a variety of other details related to the operation of sports wagering.
The sports wagering rules are under Item 19 on page nine of the .pdf document . They are required under the Montana Administrative Procedure Act, which protects the public’s right to view and participate in government decision-making.
