Gambling in Minnesota

While Minnesota is widely known by its nickname of ‘Land-of-10 000-Lakes’ gambling in Minnesota feels occasionally like it offers just as many betting options for its residents and many visitors. Other than being the number one state in the nation for charitable gambling, the state offers more than 20 Tribal Casinos, Poker Rooms, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), Horse Racing and a State Lottery.

Minnesota online sports betting is still under debate at this time. It appears just a matter of time for Minnesota to go through the legislative processes of the State Legislature and finalize a legalization of land-based and online sports betting in the next 12-18 months.

Live Poker in Minnesota (available at some tribal casinos and racetracks), and unlicensed ‘Home’ Poker games and other forms of unlicensed games are played widely.

Minnesota has more lenient than average social poker laws. Private home tournaments can be held so long as the host isn’t profiting (either directly or indirectly) on the betting action. The main stipulation of Minnesota’s social gaming law is that no individual can win more than $200 in a given day.

Poker can also be played in Minnesota through charity-based tournaments. As per the home and social games law, prizes must be capped to avoid violating the North Star State’s gambling laws.

Poker Rooms

Live Poker in Minnesota is conducted in some of the states Tribal Casinos, and both of the state’s racetracks feature live poker along with other table games.

Online Poker Laws

Currently, Minnesota’s online players are unable to play Poker online, however, as there are no specific laws written on the subject. The assumption is that online poker is illegal. We will advise you of any potential change in the status of legal online poker change in Minnesota.

The state’s potential online gamblers can, however, place wagers online for the Minnesota State Lottery, DFS competitions and horse and greyhound racing.

As previously mentioned, Minnesota is the number one state in the nation when it comes to Charitable Gambling. Much of the almost $2 billion annually raised from charitable gambling including raffles, bingo, pull-tabs goes to;

• Welfare organizations.
• New entrepreneur’s self-help organizations.
• Sporting Clubs.
• Low cost Kindergartens and Day-Care.
• Veterans Assistance Funds.
• Sports Stadium Development.
• Employment Assistance Programs and;
• Organizations for Kids in Need.

Given the predominance of Tribal Casinos within the Minnesota gambling sector, Native Americans benefit more so in the North Star State than elsewhere with;

• Job creation.
• Economic Growth.
• Rediscovering Tribal Culture through strong Tribal Government.
• Bringing prosperity to rural Minnesota.
• Tribes purchase more than $717 million in goods-and-services annually, including more than $482 million from Minnesota businesses.
• Tribal casinos attract almost 23 million visitors annually.

1945; Charitable Gambling (Bingo at first) legalized in Minnesota.

1947; Anti-slot machine law enacted.

1972; State Lottery begins in Minnesota.

1978; Paddlewheels, raffles and tip-boards legalized for charitable gaming purposes. Pull-tabs would be added in 1981.

1981; Federal Court allows Minnesota tribes to operate bingo.

1982; Horse racing legalized in Minnesota.

1983; Minnesota Racing Commission created.

1986; Video Gaming Machines appear in Tribal Casinos. Blackjack and other table games added in 1991.

1999; Live poker and other card games first offered at Minnesota racetracks.

2012; Electronic gambling devices allowed in football stadiums to fund stadium development.

Visit Our Page on Minnesota’s Online Sports Betting Laws for Our list of the top online sportsbooks in Minnesota