Minnesota Betting Sites — Legal Situation and Future Opportunities
If you’re a Minnesota resident, just visiting or are planning to make a visit, you might be wondering about the state of legal Minnesota sports betting options. While some may know that these options are restricted for the time being, there are signs pointing to a brighter future for Minnesota bettors, which will be explored in the pages to come.
On this page, readers can expect to find extensive details about Minnesota sports betting conditions, including a comprehensive guide to what is and is not legal in terms of betting in the state. We’ve also provided information about nearby alternatives offering sports betting, and a glimpse at what legal and licensed Minnesota betting sites may come to look like.
Legal Betting Options for Minnesota Players
Though there are some restrictions surrounding Minnesota online sports betting, Minnesota betting sites and other forms of online gambling in the state, readers will be pleased to learn that there are plenty of legal betting options in the state.
Players are able to place bets in casinos and some online casinos in the state, which includes poker, card games, table games, slots and more, pus lotteries and bingo. Read on to learn about the best betting sites Minnesota bettors can enjoy.
Daily Fantasy Betting in Minnesota
Though there are numerous states across North America which do not allow sports gambling but make an exception for Daily Fantasy Sports bets, unfortunately Minnesota is not among them. That means that you won’t be able to bet on Daily Fantasy Sports in Minnesota for the time being.
This means that while players will be able to access popular Daily Fantasy Sports betting sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel in the state, they aren’t properly regulated by Minnesota state lawmakers, so can’t be considered legal or safe.
This may change in the near future with the introduction of new Minnesota sports betting app laws, so keep your eyes peeled. Don’t be surprised if the best sports betting sites Minnesota offers come from these operators in the future, too.
Offshore Betting Sites — Stay Safe
If you’ve spent much time browsing the net for online gambling options in Minnesota or other states, you’re probably aware that there are dozens of options available. However, these sites are not typically licensed for individual regions of play, which means that offshore sites cannot be considered technically legal.
Minnesota players will therefore need to ensure that a bookie is licensed for your specific location before considering whether or not it is legal. Sites like MyBookie, BetOnline and Bovada aren’t licensed for play in Minnesota. That’s why we only ever recommend placing sports bets with licensed sites to guarantee fairness and safety.
Minnesota Land-based Casinos
Although we’ve seen above that there are certainly some major restrictions to what players can and cannot place bets on in the state of Minnesota, thankfully casinos are plentiful in the region. In fact, Minnesota is home to a total of 21 Indian Casinos, with each of these providing an exceptional range of betting options.
This means that while Minnesota is restrictive when it comes to many forms of betting, like other states, casinos on Indian reservations make for a noted exception. When visiting any of the popular Minnesota Indian Casinos, such as the popular Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, players can place bets on table games, card games, poker and slots.
Racetrack Betting in Minnesota
Another great option for players who are thirsting for the excitement of a live sporting bet in Minnesota in the absence of Minnesota sportsbook options is horse race betting. Horse racing is one of the best legal options in the state, and players are able to place legal bets on horse races at several Minnesota locations, including simulcasting bets at Canterbury Downs and Running Aces.
It’s also important for bettors to note the fact that although it is legal to place on-track pari-mutuel bets on horse races in Minnesota, there are some limitations placed on racetrack betting in the state. There is no legal dog racing in the state, nor is there any other kind of legal racetrack betting in the state.
Closest State to Minnesota with Legal Sports Betting
Though there are truly some fantastic alternative betting options available to players in the state, the lack of Minnesota online sports betting in the state may be too limiting for some players. If you’re a part of this eager group, you might want to consider other states which have legal sports betting.
Luckily for you, there are plenty of states nearby to Minnesota which provide legal sports betting, many of which offering both land-based and online sports betting options. In the list below, we’ve provided just a few of the nearest states to Minnesota which feature sports betting.
The Best Betting Sites in Minnesota — Huge Plans for the Future
If recent proposals and bills are passed to the final stages, there are a few likely outcomes in terms of what legal Minnesota sports betting will resemble. For one, we can use the sports betting laws of other states which have recently introduced these options as a likely example.
This means that when legal sports betting is introduced in Minnesota, players can expect to see heavily regulated sites overseen by official regulatory bodies in the state, featuring age verification services, fair payout guarantees, and assistance with problem gambling. All of the best Minnesota betting sites will have these features.
In addition to these essential features, players will no doubt want to have a glimpse into what sports and events will be available for betting. We don’t know if Minnesota will allow betting on college sporting leagues yet, but it’s essentially a guarantee that bettors would be able to place bets on the likes of all major leagues, including MLB, NBA and the NFL.
Rest assured, we’ll keep you updated on the best betting sites Minnesota has when they arrive.
If you are worried you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, free support and advice is available. The National Council on Problem Gambling is here to help.
Current Gambling Laws in Minnesota
| Betting Type | Law |
|---|---|
| Sports Betting | Soon to Be Legal |
| Online Sports Betting | Soon to Be Legal |
| Land-based Casino | Legal |
| Online Casino | Not Legal |
| Poker | Legal |
| Racetrack Betting | Legal |
| Minnesota Gambling Age | 18+ for Casinos, Racetrack, Lotto and Card Rooms |
It’s important for players to be fully-aware of the gambling laws in Minnesota before considering what bets to place. Like most states, Minnesota’s gambling laws vary heavily depending on the particular gaming type at hand. You’ll find that though there are numerous restrictions, players have plenty of options to choose from.
It’s been established that there are no Minnesota betting sites currently available, and the state specifically outlaws online casinos which take money and offer prizes. The same is not true for land-based casinos, however, of which there are plenty, and players can bet on poker, table games and slots at these locations.
Players in the state are also allowed to place bets on racetrack events, however this applies to horse racing exclusively. One of the most striking features about Minnesota gambling law is that players are able to place bets in Indian Casinos from age 18. Players will find that there are plenty of casinos which allow players over the age of 18 in Minnesota, though there are some restrictions.
As mentioned in sections above, there is no legal Daily Fantasy Sports betting in Minnesota, however this is subject to change. We recommend that players in Minnesota check out any of these great options for players in the area. While there aren’t any legal online betting options currently available in Minnesota, there have been recent developments which may change this, which we discuss in the following section.
History of Sports Betting and Gambling in Minnesota
Like many states in the USA, Minnesota has had a complicated relationship with sports betting and gambling law in its history. Legislation in the state has fluctuated heavily throughout the years, and players will find that there are some complex specifications. Here, we will give readers an overview of sports betting history in Minnesota.
The state of Minnesota has historically taken something of a conservative approach towards betting provisions. The state permitted charitable gambling between 1945 and 1981, and that was it. However in 1982, state legislature changed to allow for betting on pari-mutuel horse racing, which was officially legalized in 1983.
Further in the state’s history of gambling law, Minnesota lawmakers allowed for the introduction of the state’s lottery in 1989. This was a big change for the state, which opened the floodgates for more dramatic changes in gambling conditions. Other changes to gambling law in the state included the introduction of Canterbury Park’s authority to run a card club for betting in 1999.
Fast forwarding to more recent times, and we see some truly drastic proposals compared to a once heavily restrictive Minnesota. The 2000’s have seen a rising debate over the introduction of sports betting in the state. Minnesota has seen a bill to propose for the introduction of legal sports betting every year from 2018 to 2022.
The Future of Minnesota Online Sports Betting
Nobody can say for sure what Minnesota’s sports betting situation may be in the coming years, but there are a few things which appear more likely than others. As recently as May 2022, we’ve seen the Senate sign through on a bill to allow sports betting in the state, however this bill is yet to pass.
There is some opposition from tribes in the state who wish to retain exclusive rights over sports betting. That said, it’s appearing to be the case that Minnesota will introduce legal sports betting in the coming years. For now, players who are eager to place sports bets right away are advised to visit our pages on legal sports betting states for more options.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve provided readers with everything you need to know to get acquainted with the laws and conditions surrounding all forms of betting in the state of Minnesota on this page. Some readers may have lingering queries, which is why we’ve provided the following list of answers to frequently asked questions to set you on your way.
⚖️ Are online gambling and online sports betting legal in Minnesota?
Until very recently, the answer to this question was a simple ‘no’. However, in May of 2022, the House passed a bill to legalize sports gambling in Minnesota, so it’s very much on the horizon that Minnesota could be seeing legal sports betting options both in-person and online very soon. Visit our section on the history of sports betting in Minnesota for more.
🛡️ What is the legal gambling age in Minnesota?
Minnesota is one of very few states in which you can gamble on most things at age 18 and over. This is quite a drastic difference compared to other states, as you can also place bets on tribal casino games, slots, table games, poker and more, though there are some additional conditions in place. If you'd like to learn more, check out our section on Minnesota gambling laws.
🚨 Is playing at offshore casinos legal?
When it comes to betting legally and safely, the matter of proper licensing and transparency is of the utmost importance. That’s why we only recommend betting with sites which are licensed for your specific region, and unfortunately, sites like Bovada and MyBookie aren’t licensed in Minnesota. We suggest checking out our list of licensed and legal sites instead.
🔎 Can I play at sportsbooks in other states from Mississippi?
You cannot bet at an out of state casino from Minnesota. However, you can travel to neighbouring states with friendlier gambling laws and place bets on your favorite sports from there.