Minnesota State Gambling Rules

  • Bingo (1945), Horseracing (1983), Lottery (1988), Casinos (1989), Card Clubs (1999)
  • $100 million
  • $700 million
  • 18, although some casinos limit action to 21+
  • Smoking is banned in card clubs. It does not apply to tribal casinos.
  • Horse racing is the only legal form of online gambling

Lawful Gambling Manual. The Lawful Gambling Manual is intended to be a reference guide for organizations who conduct lawful gambling in Minnesota. Each chapter is published separately below to provide quick access to the information you need. Future changes to statutes, rules, and forms may affect information and references in this manual. Minnesota Gambling Control Board Rules The rules for lawful gambling electronic games, sports tipboard games, and other lawful gambling provisions are effective on Monday, July 15, 2019. For those of you affected by language requiring compliance within 180 days from the effective date of the rules, that date is January 11, 2020.

Minnesota Casino Locations: Shakopee, Forest Lake, Red Lake, Carlton, Cass Lake, Bagley, Grand Portage, Welch, Deer River, Mahnomen, Onamia, Star Lake, Thief River Falls, Hinckley, Morton, Warroad, Prior Lake, Duluth, Tower and Granite Falls. For individual casino locations, you can check out our interactive Minnesota casinos map.

Minnesota gambling offers a number of options to choose from. It all started with bingo in the 1940’s. Minnesota caught up to neighboring states in the 1980’s when it legalized horse racing and pari-mutuel pools related to it. A state lottery was added later in the 80’s. Seven Minnesota tribes received permission to offer slots and video poker around the same time.

Minnesota casinos have since expanded. Blackjack and electronic table games are allowed at Native American casinos on reservation land. Card club licenses were created to permit Canterbury Park to reopen its shuttered track and fund it with revenue from poker and card games banked by the house. Running Aces later obtained the same license.

Paying Gambling Taxes in Minnesota

Did you know your gambling winnings are subject to federal income tax? OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying taxes. Find out how to report your gambling income with our detailed Gambling Taxes Guide.

Minnesota Casinos Map & Guide

  • Canterbury Park
  • Running Aces
  • Treasure Island
  • Mystic Park
  • Grand Casino
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Types of Minnesota Online Gambling Allowed

Minnesota state gambling rules card game

The only form of legal Minnesota online gambling is off-track betting on horses. Sites like TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica accept players from the state. Races at Running Aces and Canterbury Park may not be wagered on through these websites and mobile apps.

Daily fantasy sports sites consider Minnesota a state where the contests are legal. The state legislature and attorney general have not given any reason to think otherwise. DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo!, and CBS Sports are among the sites that accept Minnesota players.

The Minnesota Lottery once sold tickets over the Internet. The state legislature tried twice to force the lottery out of the business of online sales. It was successful the second time.

Types of Live Minnesota Gambling

  • Slots: Yes
  • Blackjack: Yes
  • Poker: Yes
  • Craps/Roulette: No
  • Horses: Yes
  • Lottery: Yes

There are many types of legalized Minnesota gambling. Charities may hold bingo games and raffles. The Minnesota Lottery sells scratch-off and lotto tickets at convenience stores throughout the state.

Canterbury Park and Running Aces have live horse racing. They also have a card club that offers poker, blackjack, Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, baccarat and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. Off-track betting is also available at both of these tracks.

Native American Minnesota casinos may offer slots, video poker, and blackjack. Bars offer video pull-tab games. These mimic slot machines. These were rolled out to help pay for a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. That has been a disaster as the games are not popular among tavern patrons.

Minnesota Gambling Laws

Minnesota gambling laws carve out many forms of gambling. It allows horse racing and off-track betting. Registered charities may offer games of chance like raffles and bingo. The state lottery may also offer games of chance.

Reservations are the only places in Minnesota where slots and video poker are legal. Tribes must create a compact with the state and pay fees to offer electronic games. Blackjack is permitted at these tribal Minnesota casinos but is exempted from the fee requirements as it is also available at card clubs.

Racetracks are permitted to operate poker rooms. This also includes house-banked games that use cards. Permitted and taxable games include Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, blackjack, and baccarat. The maximum poker bet is $100. This does not apply to table games. Card clubs get around this rule by offering timed tournaments where each chip equals one dollar. Prizes are awarded dollar-for-dollar on redeemed chips once the timed tournament ends.

Craps and roulette are not permitted in Minnesota. This includes card clubs and Native American casinos in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Lottery may only sell tickets through retailers. The state legislature made it unlawful for lottery tickets to be sold at gas pumps or over the Internet.

The only form of gambling permitted in bars that do not hold a gaming license is electronic pull-tabs. These mimic slot machines but are played on tablets. Proceeds go to charity and funding towards the new stadium that is home to the Minnesota Vikings.

The minimum gambling age in Minnesota is 18 years. Minnesota casinos that serve alcohol may impose a minimum gambling age of 21 years. Many choose to do so, while card clubs do not.

List of Minnesota Casino Locations

Canterbury Park in Shakopee and Running Aces in Forest Park are home to the state’s two racetracks. Each also has a card club that includes a poker room, blackjack, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.

There are 21 Indian casinos in Minnesota, with two of them currently under construction. This is where players will find slots, video poker, and blackjack tables. Electronic table games are also spread at some of these venues.

Find the full list of Minnesota casino locations, websites, and other information below. For a detailed guide on how to get to a casino, use our Minnesota casinos map to find the nearest one.

Minnesota State Gambling Rules Regulations

CasinoSizeAddressWebsite
Black Bear Casino – Carlton2,000 Slot Machines1785 Highway 210www.blackbearcasinoresort.com
Fond-du-Luth Casino – Duluth750 Slot Machines129 East Superior St.www.fondduluthcasino.com
Fortune Bay Casino – Tower800 Slot Machines1430 Bois Forte Rd.www.fortunebay.com
Grand Casino – Hinckley2,100 Slot Machines777 Lady Luck Dr.www.grandcasinomn.com
Grand Casino Mille Lacs – Onamia1,900 Slot Machines777 Grand Ave.www.grandcasinomn.com
Grand Portage Casino400 Slot Machines80 Casino Dr.www.grandportage.com
Firefly Creek Bingo – Granite Falls472 Slot Machines2511 565th St.www.uppersiouxcommunity-nsn.gov
Jackpot Junction Casino – Morton1,250 Slot Machines39375 County Hwy 24www.jackpotjunction.com
Little Six Casino – Prior Lake800 Slot Machines2450 Sioux Trail N.W.www.littlesixcasino.com
Mystic Lake Casino – Prior Lake4,000 Slot Machines2400 Mystic Lake Blvd.www.mysticlake.com
Northern Lights Casino – Walker924 Slot Machines680 Y Frontage Rd. N.W.www.northernlightscasino.com
Palace Casino – Cass Lake500 Slot Machines6280 Upper Cass Frontage Rd. N.W.www.palacecasinohotel.com
Prairie’s Edge Casino – Granite Falls1,000 Slot Machines5616 Prairie’s Edge Ln.www.prairiesedgecasino.com
Seven Clans Casino – Red Lake315 Slot Machines10200 Highway 89www.sevenclanscasino.com
Seven Clans Casino – Thief River Falls750 Slot Machines20595 Center Street E.www.sevenclanscasino.com
Seven Clans Casino – Warroad480 Slot Machines1012 East Lake St.www.sevenclanscasino.com
Shooting Star Casino – Mahnomen1,000 Slot Machines777 Casino Rd.www.starcasino.com
Shooting Star Casino – BagleyOpens in 2016County Highway 27www.starcasino.com
Shooting Star Casino – Star LakeOpens in 2017County Road 41www.starcasino.com
Treasure Island Casino – Welch2,400 Slot Machines5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd.www.ticasino.com
White Oak Casino – Deer River300 Slot Machines45830 US Highway 2www.whiteoakcasino.com

History of Minnesota Gambling

Bingo was the first game of chance legalized in Minnesota; that came in 1945. Only charities may spread bingo games. This was expanded to raffles, paddlewheels and tip boards in 1978. Pull-tabs were added in 1981.

A constitutional amendment to create a legalized horse racing industry was approved in 1982. The framework was added a year later. Off-track betting was legalized in 1989 but ruled unconstitutional in 1992. A constitutional amendment was passed in 1994 to address this but voters rejected it.

There are two tracks today in Minnesota. Canterbury Park has seen many financial problems throughout the years. The loss of simulcast betting saw the track close in 1993. It later reopened and was eventually saved by the addition of a card club, as permitted by the state legislature. Running Aces later entered this same license category. Attempts to permit slots and video poker at Minnesota racetracks have repeatedly failed.

On July 1, 2011, Canterbury Park and Running Aces were forced to temporarily cease operations. This was not due to any action of the businesses. The state legislature and governor failed to agree on a budget. This forced a government shutdown that closed the state’s gaming commission. This was resolved on July 20, 2011, and the tracks and card clubs reopened.

Tribal Casinos Start Operating

Seven Native American casinos gained approval by the state to operate slot games and video poker in 1989. This was one year after the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed by Congress. Blackjack was added in 1991 to the list of approved games.

The Minnesota Vikings received approval for a new stadium in 2012. One of the ways this was to be funded was by electronic pull-tabs in bars. These devices are tablets that offer games that resemble slot machines. While a small percentage of the proceeds go to charity, it was expected to raise $35 million for the stadium. The games failed miserably and did not generate any funds for the stadium. The state was forced to look elsewhere for tax money to pay for the Minnesota Vikings’ stadium.

This was a controversial project for many reasons. One is that the NFL keeps a distance from gambling. Existing gaming companies were not happy with the competition, even though it turned out not to be any threat to other forms of legalized gambling. Conservatives did not want gambling to expand to bars. The games still exist, even with the complete lack of popularity.

Minnesota Casinos & Gambling FAQ

Is horse racing legal in Minnesota?

Yes. There are two tracks in the Twin Cities metropolitan areas; Canterbury Park and Running Aces.

Yes. Running Aces and Canterbury Park offer race books. Apps like TVG, TwinSpires and BetAmerica also offer this action.

Slots, video poker, blackjack and electronic table games are found at Minnesota tribal casinos.

What games are spread by Canterbury and Running Aces?

Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, blackjack, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em are spread by Minnesota card clubs.

The minimum Minnesota gamble age is 18 years, but some casinos that serve alcohol restrict patrons under 21 years.

Does the Minnesota Lottery sell tickets over the Internet?

The Minnesota Legislature banned online lottery sales in 2015.

What types of games may charities operate in Minnesota?

Bingo, pull-tabs, raffles, paddlewheels and tip boards are permitted games for charities.

Are daily fantasy sports sites legal in Minnesota?

Yes. The sites claim exemption under skill game laws.

What daily fantasy sites accept players from Minnesota?

DraftKings, FanDuel, CBS Sports and Yahoo! are the major daily fantasy sports providers that accept players from Minnesota.

One of the northernmost Midwest states, Minnesota, or “The Land Of 10,000 Lakes,” comes in as the 12th largest state in the country and 21st in terms of population. Minnesota residents are also sports fans, hosting 3 major professional sports teams. What’s better than watching your Vikings on Sundays with an ice-cold pop? Making money off of your Vikings, of course! Minnesota residents are able to place bets on the Vikings, or any other team, using one of the online sportsbooks suggested in this guide. Sports betting can be a touchy subject, so it’s important to be aware of the rules and regulations on sports betting so you can be sure to bet safely. This guide will not only educate you on those regulations but also give you recommendations for the best sportsbooks available to Minnesota residents.

Top Rated Minnesota Online Sportsbooks

LogoSite NameBonusRatingUSAVisit Site
Betonline Sportsbook50% Max $2500Visit Site
Sportsbetting75% Max $1000Visit Site
Bovada Sportsbook50% Max $250Visit Site

Is Sportsbook Gambling Legal in Minnesota?

At this time, state based sports gambling is not legal in Minnesota either online or offline. The state is under no obligation to create legislation to enforce this because the US federal gambling laws that govern sports betting in the US already prohibit this form of betting entertainment. Thankfully, the buck does not stop there. There are not any relevant state or federal gambling laws that make it illegal for Minnesota residents to enjoy legally sanctioned online sports betting as long as they are betting at licensed and regulated destinations that are located outside of the United States and within an respected governing jurisdiction. You will not be breaking any US laws by betting at offshore sportsbooks that are operating legally within the industry.
Most Reputable Minnesota Online Sportsbooks

After careful research, the sportsbooks you see below are the ones we recomend for Minnesota residents. These sportsbooks have been vetted by our team and have met the standards for security, reliability, credibility, and legitimacy. These sports betting destinations have the legal licensing and certifications necessary to operate and they are US-bettor friendly. They have speedy, reliable payouts that are friendly with US banks and ensure safe and legal transactions.

How State and Federal Laws Regulate Sports Betting in Minnesota

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) bars 46 states—including Minnesota—from allowing state based sports betting businesses to operate within their borders. The law was enacted in 1992 to curtail the expansion of state regulated sports betting entertainment in the US. The law is currently being challenged by New Jersey, however effectively prohibits US based brick and mortar sportsbooks from doing business in most of the US, with the exception of Nevada, Montana, Oregon and Delaware.

The Federal Wire Act prevents placing bets online with US-based sportsbooks. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) regulates banks and other financial institutions in regards to processing transactions from Internet gambling. Minnesota has no state laws that address placing bets with offshore sportsbooks.

These federal laws only pertain to US-based sports betting sites as well. Minnesota has laws against state based gambling, but there is nothing in the state’s statutes that prevent residents from placing bets with offshore sportsbooks. The sportsbooks listed in this guide are legally sanctioned and are outside the jurisdiction of US federal law, meaning that Minnesota residents aren’t in violation of any laws by using them.
Popular Sports Teams To Bet On In Minnesota

The Minnesota Vikings are one of the league’s more memorable teams (Brett Favre days), but they look promising under new QB Sam Bradford. The Minnesota Twins make up the state’s MLB presence, but that season has yet to start. The Minnesota Timberwolves are a Western Conference NBA team and a local fan favorite.

NFL Teams in MN

Minnesota Vikings

NBA Teams in MN

Minnesota Timberwolves

MLB Teams in MN

Minnesota State Gambling Rules Against

Minnesota Twins

FAQs About Betting On Sports

Can I Bet On Multiple Teams?

Yes. You can bet on as many teams as you want. You can either place individual bets on your favorite local teams, or any other teams for that matter, or you can do a parlay bet. Parlay bets are bets on a series of outcomes where the bettor has to win all of the outcomes in order to win the wager.

How Do I Register For An Account At An Offshore Sportsbook?

In order to create an account with one of the legally approved sportsbooks listed in this guide you will have to enter some personal information such as your name, address, etc. You will also be asked to verify your identity by sending in a photo copy of your personal ID or another option. This is for security purposes and helps to keep your information and transactions safe. You are free to browse the betting lines prior to registering for an account or making a deposit.

Are These Offshore Betting Sites Legal For Minnesota Residents To Bet At?

State Of Minnesota Raffle Rules

Yes. These sportsbooks are 100% legally sanctioned and have all the necessary licenses and credentials to operate. The brands we’ve recommended accept Minnesota residents. You are not in violation of any federal or Minnesota state laws by using one or more of these sportsbooks.

Can I Have Accounts With Multiple Sportsbooks?

Yes. There are no rules against having accounts with multiple sportsbooks. Different sportsbooks have varying betting lines, odds and bonuses, so by having an account with multiple sportsbooks you’re giving yourself the best opportunity of making the most of your money and being able to shop for the best lines and odds.

Minnesota State Gambling Rules

Can I Place Bets From My Mobile Phone?

Minnesota State Gambling Rules

Absolutely. All of our featured sportsbooks have developed a sophisticated mobile betting app to compliment their services. The application is web based and mobile optimized, allowing you to place bets (including live betting), manage your account, complete financial transactions and get live updates, among other functionality.

How Do Deposits and Withdrawals Work?

You can deposit money into your account in several ways. You can select the option of paying by either credit/debit card (requires verification), money transfer, Bitcoin, cashier’s check and more depending on which sportsbook you are betting at. In some cases, your withdrawal method is dependent on the deposit method that you chose. If not, you’ll have another list of options to choose from for withdrawals such as check by mail or wire transfer. All transactions can be handled through your account page on the sportsbook. You do need to have deposited money into your account before you can place a bet.

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is an online currency that has emerged as one of the premier forms of currency for online transactions. It’s the fastest way to deposit and receive money through these sportsbook sites. There are online services that can help you convert your Bitcoins into money that’s deposited into your personal account(s).

Are There Any Sports Teams in Minnesota That Have A Shot At Winning A National Title in 2017/2018?

The Minnesota Vikings started red hot this last season, but unfortunately started to falter and ended up missing the playoffs. The team showed a lot of promise and they’ll be looking to repeat that winning form at the start of the next season. The MLB season doesn’t start for a bit so it’s a little too soon to determine the odds of the Twins winning the World Series. The Timberwolves are in 10th place of the NBA’s Western Conference—not a good place to be in if you want to make the playoffs. The chances of them making the postseason are pretty slim this year.