Minnesota Gambling Statutes
- 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
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 Office of the Revisor of Statutes, 700 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Click on the following links for more information about Minnesota gambling criminal statutes. These links bring you to the Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Gambling, definitions; Lottery fraud; Act of or relating to gambling; Prohibited acts in pari-mutual horse racing; Other acts relating to gambling; Operations permitted. Minnesota has historically been a state that is slow in legalizing any gambling. The first legal form of gambling was introduced in 1945 with the legalization of bingo in the state. Since then there have been several legal gambling venues added to the legislation, but every one of these has come with a long hard battle to legalize it. 609.75 GAMBLING; DEFINITIONS. § Subdivision 1.Lottery. (a) A lottery is a plan which provides for the distribution of money, property or other reward or benefit to persons selected by chance from among participants some or all of whom have given a consideration for the chance of being selected. A participant's payment for use of a 900 telephone number.
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.
Click on the following links for more information about Minnesota gambling regulatory statutes. These links bring you to the Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Gambling Regulations; Lawful gambling; State Lottery; Parimutuel racing; Gambling Enforcement; Statute regarding compacts for indian gaming; Agency rules and regulations.
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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- 11
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Types of Minnesota Online Gambling Allowed
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.
Mn Gambling Statute
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.
Minnesota Gambling Statutes
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.
Wisconsin Gambling Statutes
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.
Casino | Size | Address | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Black Bear Casino – Carlton | 2,000 Slot Machines | 1785 Highway 210 | www.blackbearcasinoresort.com |
Fond-du-Luth Casino – Duluth | 750 Slot Machines | 129 East Superior St. | www.fondduluthcasino.com |
Fortune Bay Casino – Tower | 800 Slot Machines | 1430 Bois Forte Rd. | www.fortunebay.com |
Grand Casino – Hinckley | 2,100 Slot Machines | 777 Lady Luck Dr. | www.grandcasinomn.com |
Grand Casino Mille Lacs – Onamia | 1,900 Slot Machines | 777 Grand Ave. | www.grandcasinomn.com |
Grand Portage Casino | 400 Slot Machines | 80 Casino Dr. | www.grandportage.com |
Firefly Creek Bingo – Granite Falls | 472 Slot Machines | 2511 565th St. | www.uppersiouxcommunity-nsn.gov |
Jackpot Junction Casino – Morton | 1,250 Slot Machines | 39375 County Hwy 24 | www.jackpotjunction.com |
Little Six Casino – Prior Lake | 800 Slot Machines | 2450 Sioux Trail N.W. | www.littlesixcasino.com |
Mystic Lake Casino – Prior Lake | 4,000 Slot Machines | 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd. | www.mysticlake.com |
Northern Lights Casino – Walker | 924 Slot Machines | 680 Y Frontage Rd. N.W. | www.northernlightscasino.com |
Palace Casino – Cass Lake | 500 Slot Machines | 6280 Upper Cass Frontage Rd. N.W. | www.palacecasinohotel.com |
Prairie’s Edge Casino – Granite Falls | 1,000 Slot Machines | 5616 Prairie’s Edge Ln. | www.prairiesedgecasino.com |
Seven Clans Casino – Red Lake | 315 Slot Machines | 10200 Highway 89 | www.sevenclanscasino.com |
Seven Clans Casino – Thief River Falls | 750 Slot Machines | 20595 Center Street E. | www.sevenclanscasino.com |
Seven Clans Casino – Warroad | 480 Slot Machines | 1012 East Lake St. | www.sevenclanscasino.com |
Shooting Star Casino – Mahnomen | 1,000 Slot Machines | 777 Casino Rd. | www.starcasino.com |
Shooting Star Casino – Bagley | Opens in 2016 | County Highway 27 | www.starcasino.com |
Shooting Star Casino – Star Lake | Opens in 2017 | County Road 41 | www.starcasino.com |
Treasure Island Casino – Welch | 2,400 Slot Machines | 5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd. | www.ticasino.com |
White Oak Casino – Deer River | 300 Slot Machines | 45830 US Highway 2 | www.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.
In the state of Minnesota, many residents are interested in gambling online due to a lack of convenient and close by land based options. For interested parties, the trick is not just finding a means to gamble – they’re everywhere – the trick is finding a means to gamble in compliance with state and federal laws. After all, in a game where risk and reward is part of the inherent nature, no player wants to add an additional risk of legal prosecution on top of everything.
This leads to many questions concerning the laws around online gambling, and this page is here to help. In addition to several federal policies that govern gambling, Minnesota residents are also subject to a unique set of laws put forth by their state legislation that apply to all who wish to gamble in Minnesota. The following page will not only dissect federal policy on gambling, but also help to break down the finer points of state law so that Minnesota players can garner a full understanding of the laws that govern their ability to access Minnesota gambling sites.
Unfortunately, things are not always as simple as can be. While the state of Minnesota essentially follows the same pattern as the federal policy when it comes to online gambling, there are a few clauses in the state constitution worth noting. While Minnesota never mentions online gambling in their state constitution, players should defer to federal law and any state policies that could apply.
609.75.2 - The state of Minnesota does not use the term “gamble,” but they do define a “bet.” We can see here that casino games, poker, and sports betting would all qualify as a “bet.” While the letter of the law technically says this is a crime, the intent of the law is always more important. We feel that fact that no Minnesota resident has ever been brought up on charges for gambling speaks clearly to the intent of the law. Just so long as a player stays away from illicit gambling operations, they run no risk of legal prosecution.
609.76.1 - We can see here that, just as with federal law, it is those who facilitate gambling that really run the legal risk. Not only will Minnesota charge these crimes with extreme prejudice, but also the penalty is steep.
609.76.2 - Clearly defines charge for illegal bookmaking operations. In Minnesota, anyone caught taking wagers on sports or games of skill stands to be charged with a felony.
609.761.3 - This section does one thing: protects the sanctity of the home poker game amongst friends. Thanks to this clause in Minnesota policy, no resident has to worry about the police breaking up their after-work poker game.
Look Up All The Gambling Laws In Minnesota - Click Here
The first and most important thing to understand about any laws that govern legal gambling for Minnesota residents, whether online or on land is this: playing these games or participating in betting is legal. In all three of the major gambling polices passed through the US senate, mere players are specifically exempt from any legal responsibility. In fact, these laws serve only to target the facilitators of gambling or betting and break up large organized crime syndicates. The federal government is not interested in otherwise honest citizens who place a wager.
With that in mind, the law with which it all began passed in 1961, called the Federal Wire Act. This was the very first federal law that affected any sort of gambling, and it still applies today, predominantly to sports betting. This law prevents any bookmaker from transmitting information across state borders using a public wire facility. This may sound dated, but as recently as 2011 the Supreme Court ruled that the internet counts as such a facility, meaning it’s impossible to place bets with a US based sportsbook outside of the state it operates in. This went even further in 1992 once the PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) passed at the behest of then-NBA commissioner David Stern. This law outright prohibits the facilitation of sports betting anywhere except Oregon, Montana, Delaware and, of course, Nevada.
We now have two laws that govern online sports betting, but we have not touched on online casinos or poker rooms. In 2006, the Congress realized this oversight as well, and tacked the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) onto the Safe Port Act and brought an end to US run gambling sites. This act criminalized the operation of any gambling site in the country and restricted a player’s ability to receive winnings on their credit card.
We have already established that none of these laws affect the player, but how can a Minnesota resident gamble online with a legal establishment? While all of these laws would instantly shut down any gambling networks discovered in the US, but the internet has made the world a small place. By signing up with offshore, legal gambling sites for Minnesota residents, players may gamble online legally with a legal business.
We have learned that it is possible to gamble online legally in the state of Minnesota. However, if a player is under 18, these laws do not apply. Minnesota strictly prohibits underage gambling, and they will enforce penalties including steep legal fines and even jail time for offenders.
Now that Minnesota residents know it’s possible to gamble legally from the comfort of home, there should be nothing stopping them from logging on and watching the money pour in. The state of Minnesota allows responsible online gambling, so we think that interested residents should treat themselves.
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