This Interesting Fact Proves That Montana Has The Best Bars

Across the great state of Montana, you'll find a variety of unique dive bars or watering holes, as some like to call them. Quite a few of the bars you'll find in the state have been around for decades and are considered local landmarks. There's an interesting fact about bars in Montana that you may not know about if you're a newcomer. Luckily, we're here to fill you in.

I grew up in Idaho, so moving to Montana wasn't much different from what I was used to, but there was one thing that came as a big surprise. The first time I walked into a bar in Montana, I saw slot machines lined up along the back wall. Personally, I'm not a huge gambler, but that's something that I'd never seen growing up in Idaho. If you wanted to gamble, you had to drive almost 3 hours from Boise to Jackpot, Nevada. Many people are surprised to learn that you can actually gamble in bars in Montana, and I was one of them.

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Slot machines aren't the only form of gambling you'll find at bars in Montana. Several bars also have live poker tables if you feel like playing a little Texas Hold'em. Fair warning, there are a lot of really good poker players in Montana, and if you don't play smart, you'll most likely lose all of your money.

Why Are Bars in Montana Better Than Bars in Other States?

There's another interesting thing you'll find at bars in Montana that makes them unique and that is the shake-a-day or bar dice. If you're lucky, you could win a lot of money the next time you head into a bar to wet your whistle. Most bars in Montana have a shake-a-day. You just have to ask the bartender.

What is a Shake-a-Day?

Shake-a-Day consists of 5 dice that are placed inside a cup that is usually wrapped in leather. The object is to shake the cup and roll the dice. If all 5 of the dice match (Example "All Sixes"), you win! Most bars in Montana have multiple pots, and you can roll the dice separately for a chance to win each pot. The price to play is only 50 cents. If there are 4 pots, the price is 50 cents per roll. The pots will grow larger each time someone rolls and doesn't win. Click here to view the rules for playing shake-a-day in Montana.