Minnesota Online Casino Real Money – Gambling Laws in The North Star State

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.