Online gambling in Minnesota exists within a legal gray area, with many legitimate online casinos accepting Minnesota residents, although these sites operate outside the United States.
State officials cannot extend consumer protections to players who use offshore gambling sites; therefore, players must do their due diligence and research gambling sites before depositing.
Read this guide to learn about online gambling in the North Star State.
Summary of Minnesota Gambling Laws
Minnesota gambling laws allow casino gambling, pari-mutuel wagering, and lottery betting, with charitable gambling being a huge part of the state’s gaming space.
Lawmakers have rejected sports betting and online sportsbooks so far. Fantasy sports are allowed, though DFS exists in a gray area. Private home games for small stakes are allowed.
| Gambling | Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Is Online Gambling Legal? | Gray Area |
| Playing at Online Casinos | Yes |
| Legal Age Online | 18+ |
| Land-Based Casinos | Yes |
| Legal Age Land-Based | No |
| Online Sports Betting | Gray Area |
| Charitable Gambling | Yes |
| State Lottery | Yes |
| Social Gaming | Yes |
Is Gambling Legal in Minnesota?
Most forms of gambling are legal in Minnesota. Poker is allowed, but you must be inside a casino or racino for legal poker. Online gambling is unregulated, so it happens in a legal gray area. Local online gamblers play at sites located outside the state.
| Gambling | Minnesota Legal Status |
|---|---|
| Online Casinos | Online gambling is explicitly outlawed, but offshore sites still accept players. |
| Casino Gambling | Only tribal casinos are permitted—twenty tribal locations offer a variety of class III games. |
| Poker | Poker is legal at licensed tribal casinos with ten operating poker rooms. |
| Horse Racing Betting | Horse racing is legal, and two race tracks in the state provide in-person and online betting. |
| Dog Racing Betting | Dog racing is illegal. |
| Lottery | Minnesota has a state-run lottery offering games like scratch cards, Powerball, and Print n Play. |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | The law doesn’t address fantasy sports, so it’s a gray area. Several sites accept entries from Minnesota. |
| Sports Betting | Online and retail sports betting are illegal in Minnesota. |
| Charitable Gaming | Licensed non-profits can conduct charitable gambling games like bingo and raffles. |
| Social Gaming | Social gambling is legal as long as it’s in a private residence and profits are generated. |
Best Minnesota Online Casinos
Below are the best casino sites for players residing or visiting Minnesota this year.
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Where to Gamble in MN
If you want to gamble in the North Star State, you have several choices at land-based venues.
Casino gambling, pari-mutuel betting, lottery games, and charitable gambling are all legal. Here is an overview of the land-based gambling options in Minnesota.
Land-Based Casinos in Minnesota
Minnesota has 21 tribal casinos and 40 land-based casinos in all.
Some are bars and taverns with less than 15 gaming machines apiece. Others are larger venues with hundreds of gaming machines and a handful of table games.
Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch is one of Minnesota’s biggest land-based casinos. It has 2,150 gaming machines, 44 table games, and seven poker tables.
Below is a comprehensive list of major physical casinos available to state and visiting players.
| Casino | Location | Type |
|---|---|---|
Black Bear Casino Resort | Carlton, Minnesota | Native American |
| Canterbury Park | Shakopee, Minnesota | Racino |
| Fond-du-luth Casino | Duluth, Minnesota | Native American |
| Fortune Bay Resort Casino | Tower, Minnesota | Native American |
| Grand Casino Hinckley | Hinckley, Minnesota | Native American |
| Grand Casino Mille Lacs | Onamia, Minnesota | Native American |
| Grand Portage Lodge & Casino | Grand Portage, Minnesota | Native American |
| Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel | Morton, Minnesota | Native American |
| Little Six Casino | Prior Lake, Minnesota | Native American |
| Mystic Lake Casino Hotel | Prior Lake, Minnesota | Native American |
| Northern Lights Casino | Walker, Minnesota | Native American |
| Cedar Lakes Casino | Cass Lake, Minnesota | Native American |
| Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort | Granite Falls, Minnesota | Native American |
| Running Aces Harness Park | Columbus, Minnesota | Racino |
| Seven Clans Casino Red Lake | Red Lake, Minnesota | Native American |
| Seven Clans Casino Thief River Falls | Thief River Falls, Minnesota | Native American |
| Seven Clans Casino Warroad | Warroad, Minnesota | Native American |
| Shooting Star Casino | Mahnomen, Minnesota | Native American |
| Treasure Island Resort & Casino | Red Wing, Minnesota | Native American |
| White Oak Casino | Deer River, Minnesota | Native American |
Horse & Dog Tracks
The state currently has two horse track racinos: Running Aces Racetrack in Columbus and Canterbury Park in Shakopee.
Running Aces has live thoroughbred racing from May to August. It also has 59 gaming tables and 18 poker tables.
Canterbury Park has thoroughbred and quarter horse racing, 33 gaming tables, and 31 poker tables.
Online Sports Betting
State Lawmakers have not legalized or regulated online sports betting.
Residents can play at offshore online sportsbooks, but they do so in a legal gray area. Since offshore bookmakers don’t have to follow U.S. gaming laws, bettors gamble without legal protections.
Like licensed online sportsbooks, such sites offer welcome bonuses and risk-free bets. They also provide point spreads, total bets, and moneyline odds on the most famous American sports.
Bingo Halls and Charitable Gambling
The Minnesota Gambling Control Board oversees charitable gambling in the state.
In 2022 alone, charitable gambling generated $4.2 billion in state revenue.
Charitable gaming groups can conduct many games: Bingo, raffles, tipboards, pull-tables, paddlewheels, and electronic games.
Social Gaming at Home
The North Star State allows private home games if the players engage in nickel-ante games.
If the wagering is negligible, then social games at home are legal. Organizers cannot profit from casino nights or poker nights by charging door fees, seat licenses, or collecting a rake.
Minnesota also allows skill gaming. Betting on Texas Hold’em, gin, euchre, skat, cribbage, and bridge is legal because they are skill games.
Once again, the host cannot profit from this gambling activity. Texas Hold’em games where the house charges a rake would be illegal.
Poker Rooms and Clubs
Minnesota does not allow unlicensed businesses to operate poker rooms. Card players won’t find poker clubs in restaurants or private clubs.
They can find poker rooms in some of the state’s land-based casinos and horse track racinos. For instance, Running Aces Racetrack and Canterbury Park — the state’s two horse tracks — have a poker room.
Several of the state’s casinos do, too. Examples include Fortune Bay Casino in Tower and Northern Lights Casino in Walker.
Eight-Liners
Truck stop gaming machines aren’t allowed in the state. Lawmakers plan new restrictions on electronic pull-tab machines used by charitable gambling groups because they are too much like slot machines.
In 2012, Minnesota legalized electronic pull-tab machines to fund U.S. Bank Stadium — home of the Minnesota Vikings.
Over the years, such gaming machines have appeared throughout charitable gaming venues in Minnesota. Charity groups have collected billions in revenues, but such gaming is now considered a bad idea.
Given such backlash against electronic pull tabs, Minnesota won’t approve eight-liners or other truck stop gaming machines anytime soon.
Casino Cruises
Starting in May each year, a handful of casino river cruises take passengers through the St. Croix River.
One example is St. Croix River Cruises, which departs from the Hudson City Docks near Treasure Island Resort and Casino. This tour occurs where the St. Croix River meets the Mississippi River.
It’s not the only example. Paradise Charter Cruises departs out of Minneapolis. The casino cruise ship is called Minneapolis Queen.
Minnesota Real Money Online Casino Games
Players have access to a full range of real-money online casino games. Here is a quick survey of the main games offered in a typical casino site that accepts Minnesota players.
Online Slots
Playing online slots is prohibited in the state, prompting players to turn to offshore casino sites for access.
These sites offer a plethora of titles characterized by distinctive themes, enticing bonus features, and substantial progressive jackpots.
Moreover, online slots often have higher Return-to-player (RTP) rates than land-based casinos, typically exceeding 95%, accompanied by lower minimum bets, starting as low as 1¢.
Online Poker
Online poker follows the same pattern as online casino gaming, and you won’t find an online poker room licensed in the state.
Offshore sites offer a poker haven for Minnesotans, who’ll find multiple formats and variants.
You can play Omaha, Texas Hold ‘Em, and Jacks or Better, playing against the computer or other players worldwide, depending on the format.
Blackjack
Most sites have between five and fifteen variants of online blackjack.
Top games include Classic Blackjack, European Blackjack, Pontoon, Single-Deck Blackjack, Australian Pontoon, Spanish 21, Double Exposure, and Blackjack Switch.
Land-based casinos also feature blackjack games. Most have only a handful of blackjack tables, so they have less variety than online casinos that accept Minnesota players.
Live Dealer Games
Top online casinos have live dealer games, where human dealers deal with the cards.
Cameras film the game in real-time and stream it live to your computer screen.
Live Blackjack features bet-behind rules to assure you never wait for a table. If you don’t have a seat at the table, you can bet on other player’s hands.
Other Games Available at Minnesota Online Casinos
Online casinos offer players one or more versions of roulette, craps, and baccarat in their table games sections. Table poker like Let It Ride, Caribbean Stud, Three Card Poker, and Red Dog also appear in this section.
If you want to play Keno, Bingo, or scratch cards, visit the specialty games section of a casino site.
Top Bonuses at Online Casinos for Minnesota Players
Bovada Casino and DuckyLuck Casino have our picks for the best online casino bonuses. Bovada offers bonus money for your first three deposits, and DuckyLuck offers bonus money plus free spins.
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You’ll need to deposit $500 to get the full offer. Whatever deposit amount you choose, you’ll receive 50 free spins daily for the first three days after the deposit.
For the bonus money, the wagering requirement is 30x the deposit plus the bonus amount.
Minnesota Online Gambling Laws
Minnesota gambling laws tend to promote land-based gaming while ignoring online gambling. Players can enjoy most forms of land-based gambling in a regulated environment.
The North Star State has yet to legalize either online or retail sports betting. Any sports wagering takes place at offshore bookmakers in a legal gray area.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Minnesota?
Online gambling exists within a legal gray area in Minnesota. State lawmakers have not regulated online casinos, poker sites, or sportsbooks.
Nonetheless, state officials don’t prosecute individual residents who gamble at offshore gambling sites or sportsbooks.
On the other hand, players don’t enjoy legal protections, so they must take precautions and only play at reputable and trusted sites.
Pari-Mutuel Betting
Chapter 240 of the Minnesota Statutes includes all provisions on pari-mutuel wagering on horse races. This section contains the rules for pari-mutuel betting.
It also has provisions for racetrack, racing, county fair, and occupational licenses. It sets down the racing days, plus the rules on advance depositing wagering.
State Lottery
Chapter 349A of the Minnesota Statutes governs the state lottery. This section created the state lottery. It also sets down lottery game procedures and rules.
It discusses legal lottery retailers, vendor contracts, and advertising. Chapter 349A discusses the size of lottery prizes, prohibited acts, and other restrictions. The last section includes sports-themed games.
Tribal-State Gaming Compact
Along with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), the Tribal-State Gaming Compact governs tribal casino laws in Minnesota.
The compact includes amendments for the blackjack and video games of chance. Each tribe has amendments that extend their compact with the State of Minnesota.
Thus, readers will find amendments for all 11 federally recognized Minnesota tribes.
Senate Bills on Sports Betting
The 2021-2022 session of the Minnesota Senate had two bills that would have legalized sports betting. Both bills — one introduced by State Senator Karla Bigham and the other introduced by State Senator Roger C. Chamberlain — would have established a Sports Wagering Commission.
*Please be advised that the information provided on this page does not constitute legal advice. Our team strongly recommends you seek professional counsel from a qualified attorney regarding your specific questions or concerns on the topic.
Minnesota Online Gambling vs. Neighboring States
Minnesota has comparable laws to most of its neighboring states, though Illinois takes a different approach. The following chart briefly summarizes how Minnesota compares to its neighbors.
| US State | Playing at Online Casinos | State Regulated Casinos | Social Casinos | Online Sports Betting | Lottery | Fantasy Sports | Charitable Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | Gray Area | Illegal | Legal | Illegal | Legal | Gray Area | Legal |
| Illinois | Gray Area | Illegal | Illegal | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Iowa | Gray Area | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| South Dakota | Gray Area | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Legal | Gray Area | Legal |
| North Dakota | Gray Area | Illegal | Legal | Illegal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
Minnesota’s gambling laws are most like those in South Dakota. Iowa and North Dakota have similar laws, though those states take a different approach to fantasy sports.
Illinois’s approach to online sports betting, fantasy sports, and private gambling at home differs.
Minnesota and its neighbors take the same approach to online gambling. None of the states in the Upper Midwest regulate online casinos, poker rooms, or sportsbooks.
Thus, players gamble online in a legal gray area. In all cases, offshore online gambling sites accept real money play from those states.
Safety Tips When Playing at Online Casinos in Minnesota
Before playing for real money, keep in mind the following tips. These save you money over the long haul while preventing conflict with the gambling sites you choose.
Do Your Research
Read casino reviews and aggregate ratings from trusted sites. These help you find safe and trusted online gambling sites.
  Learn About Return-to-Player Ratios
Each game has a theoretical return-to-player (RTP) percentage. These tell which games have the best odds. Learn these to pick the best games.
Remember Promo Codes
Many welcome bonuses require a promo code. Remember to input the promo code on the cashier page before depositing.
Read Terms of Use
Learn the wagering requirements and other terms of use when accepting a bonus. Knowing the terms assures your winnings won’t be voided for breaking the terms and conditions.
Practice Bankroll Management
Use money management techniques like loss limits, win goals, and bet limits to manage your bankroll. Shorter gaming sessions protect your winnings.
Pros & Cons of Gambling in Minnesota
Pros & Cons of Gambling in Minnesota
Learn about the Pros and Cons of gambling in the state before wagering your money.Â
Pros
- Casinos feature hundreds of online slots, table games, Keno, and scratch card games.
- Sites offer welcome bonuses worth thousands of dollars.
- Players can use credit cards, bank wires, and crypto deposits when playing for real money.
Cons
- Gambling at offshore gambling sites is a legal gray area, so you can’t expect consumer protection policies.
- Land-based casinos don’t have online gaming portals, so loyalty club rewards don’t transfer to brick-and-mortar comps.
Future of Online Gambling in Minnesota: Our Prediction
Given the lack of action in recent legislative sessions, Minnesota is not likely to legalize online gambling sites in the coming years. In the past several years, all gambling bills have focused on sports betting, though the state’s leaders cannot agree on sports betting laws.
So long as state lawmakers focus on sports betting, expect online gambling laws to sit on the back burner. A possible future omnibus gambling law might cover all unregulated forms of gambling.
Thus, the same bill might approve sports betting and online gambling. In Pennsylvania, for example, that approach helped unite disparate gambling interests behind one bill.
Land-based casino interests in the state view online gambling as competition. With that in mind, the likelihood of an omnibus gambling bill is small.
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Answers to Our Readers’ FAQs
Minnesota has never prosecuted a resident for playing at online casinos based outside of the state. State laws prosecute operators – not players. The risk of playing at offshore gambling sites is you play with no legal protections. Players should read trusted gambling site reviews before playing at offshore sites.
Yes. Lincoln Casino has a $15 no-deposit bonus when you sign up for a new account. Red Dog Casino has a similar $15 signup bonus.
Disclaimer
As part of our commitment to transparency, it’s important to disclose that this website engages in affiliate marketing. This means that when you click on our links to online casinos and make a purchase or sign up, we may earn a commission.
These commissions contribute to the upkeep of our platform and the creation of valuable content. While we aim to provide accurate and unbiased information, it’s crucial to note that our reviews are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Additionally, we advocate for responsible gambling practices and encourage users to gamble responsibly. If you believe you may have a gambling problem, please seek assistance from relevant support services.
