History
Gambling undoubtedly has a checkered history in the state of Idaho, and this is unsurprising given the region’s Constitution and its approach to gambling nearly 125 years ago. Back then, it was declared that there would be no “lottery or gift enterprise”, and it has taken considerable amounts of time and conflict to introduce gambling in the state in any form.
Coeur d’Alene resort in Idaho was the first to open its doors in 1993.
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1953
Commercial slot machines have been banned since 1953, after a brief six-year period in which such terminals were allowed to operate in Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Garden City. While slots are still considered unconstitutional, however, an Idaho state lottery was approved in 1988, albeit after a sustained legal fight and years of unsuccessful proposals.
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1988
This blazed a trail for tribal gaming to follow, and it was during the same year that the 1988 India Gaming Regulatory Act was implemented. This allowed various Idaho tribes to operate their own casino and lottery operations, and while there has been some tension surrounding the deployment of video gaming machines at Coeur d’Alene, nine successful Indian casinos have since opened within the state’s borders. Over time, we’ve also seen the introduction of a 6.925% state tax on gambling winnings, which is applied alongside a federal levy of 24%.