Alaska Snowfall Betting Bill Passes House, Headed to Senate

^{Alaskans, seen here getting ready for the start of the 2025 Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, could soon have the ability to bet on how much snow falls in certain areas. (Image: Amanda Loman / AP)}

A bill currently working its way through the Alaska legislature could allow people to bet on snowfall totals, offering Alaskans a one-of-a-kind wagering opportunity in the United States.

House Bill 50 passed through the Alaska House of Representatives by an overwhelming 35-2 vote on Friday.

Snow Classics Currently Restricted to One Organization

HB50 would allow organizations throughout Alaska to hold “snow classics,” or contests in which individuals could join pools to guess exactly how much snow will fall or accumulate at a particular location by a certain time each winter. 

Currently, Mount Alyeska Resort hosts the only snow classic in the state, with the proceeds benefitting Four Valleys Community School. With the mountain receiving an average annual snowfall of 435 inches, and contestants asked to guess the depth of snow down to a hundredth of a foot, there’s plenty of room for guessing. In 2023, the Alyeska Snow Classic raised $3,186 for the school.

The popularity of that event has led other organizations to want to run their own versions of Alyeska’s snow classic. However, the law allowing its contest specifically limits “snow classics” to that one organization, a limit that doesn’t apply to similar charitable gaming contests. 

That’s why Rep. Sara Hannah (D-Juneau) introduced HB50 on behalf of the Juneau Nordic Ski Club, which wants to run a similar contest to benefit youth skiers.

“Right now the statute under law specifies it very narrowly to one classic in one community with one beneficiary,” Hannan said while giving an overview of her bill on the House floor. “We have several classics in state law that do not require that specificity. Any charitable gaming organization is able to run a ‘rain classic,’ but our Nordic ski club youth program here would like to run a snow classic and so the bill is before you.”

Winter ‘Classics’ Date Back Over 100 Years in Alaska

HB50 also found support from some in rural communities, who say the snow classics could provide them with new revenue streams.

“Many rural and off-road-system communities in Alaska, like Haines, face unique financial challenges in maintaining outdoor infrastructure, and this legislation would provide a critical funding mechanism to help bridge the gap,” Nate Arrants, executive director of Haines Huts and Trails, wrote in a letter to Alaska lawmakers.

The bill passed without discussion in the Alaska House. It will need to be passed by the Alaska Senate and signed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to become law. The Alaska Department of Revenue has said that the bill would have no impact on the state budget.

The fascination with these events in Alaska is more than a century old. The original contest is the Nenana Ice Classic, which has been running since 1917, according to the contest website. In this contest, individuals buy $3 tickets to guess the exact date and time that the ice on the Tanana River would break up in Nenana. The 2024 pot reached $210,155, with one solo winner identified as Esther from Ouzinkie, Alaska walking away with the entire pot after having the only ticket with the exact time.