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Is Online Gambling Legal in Minnesota?
Online gambling in Minnesota has not yet been legalized but while we wait there are plenty of variants of gambling and gaming entertainment available in the North Star state. Lawful gambling is overseen by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board so let's look at some of Minnesota's popular gambling outlets:
Sports betting - There are ongoing talks between the state Senate, the tribes, and their compacts regarding sports betting in Minnesota.
Horse racing - There are a couple of horse racetracks in the state where we can sit back and enjoy the racing and betting. Canterbury Park Located in Shakopee, MN is the best destination for horse racing action, card games and other casino games in Minnesota.
Minnesota Lottery - Minnesota legislature created a state lottery in 1989, which is operated by the Governor's director and aided by the advice and consent of the Senate. The Minnesota Indian Gaming Commission (MIGA) will have its say on everything gambling in MN.
Casinos - It's tribal casinos only at present in Minnesota and these tribes control and operate the live gambling space under a combination of state law and compacts. Minnesota online casinos are still illegal at present in MN.
Bingo - Licensed non-profit agencies such as bingo and raffles can operate legally under the Minnesota gambling laws. Bingo has been legal in Minnesota since 1945.
Poker - Poker and other real money casino games are licensed at the horse racing tracks and tribal casinos and card clubs in Minnesota.
Sweepstakes casinos - Sweepstakes casinos or internet cafes/parlors are dotted around Minnesota where you can play casino games online and win tokens and prizes. Sweepstakes casinos mimic online real money casinos but are free to play.
A History Of Gambling in Minnesota
After the second world war, charitable gambling in Minnesota was permitted to a degree but no other type of gambling or casino in MN was lawful. Pari-mutuel betting in the state was proposed and approved in 1983 when horse racing betting was legalized. It was then that the Minnesota Racing Commission was created.
In 1999, Canterbury Park was granted legislative authority to open a card club at the racetrack. The US Congress had passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988 and that allowed gambling on tribal lands. The act affirmed legal basis for gaming on tribal land and authorized tribal-state compacts for casino-style gambling.
Since the turn of the century, talk has turned to sports betting and Minnesota online casinos. while daily fantasy sports has also grown in popularity. Bills proposed since 2016 in the House have authorized fantasy sports but not sports betting in Minnesota. In May 2018, the United States Supreme Court ruled that "a federal law that bars states from legalizing sports betting violates the anti-commandeering doctrine," and talks of legalising Minnesota online casinos and sports betting are still ongoing in the state.
Paddlewheels, tip-boards, and raffles are other forms of legalized gambling in Minnesota which have been legal since 1978. In 1984 the state legislature transferred regulation and licensing from local governments to the Charitable Gambling Control Board. It is likely that we will soon see several Minnesota casinos online with talks and proposals to the House and the Senate ongoing, and the compacts between the tribes and the state being continuously looked at.
Retail Casinos in Minnesota
Minnesota was the first state to sign gaming agreements just a year after Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988. The Indian tribes in Minnesota own and dictate the casino licenses and MN is now home to 19 tribal-owned land-based brick-and-mortar casinos. Other Commercial casinos and Minnesota online casinos do not exist yet.
Mystic Lake is the largest casino and hotel complex in Minnesota. It's the premier gaming establishment in the North Star state. Here is a list of several of the biggest and the best casinos in Minnesota and the gaming spread they offer:
Online Casino Games Expected to Launch in MN
Mimicking Harrah's Cherokee Poker Room in NC implementing its own online casino, the best Minnesota online casinos will feature all your favorite Minnesota online gambling games. Let's look at some of them:
Online Slots
Online slots include progressive jackpot slots, variants like MegaWays, classic slots, 3D slots. All the newest and best slot game titles will be available at the best online gambling Minnesota casinos.
Online Poker
Games like Draw Poker or Texas Hold'em Poker versus the dealer will be available to play at the best Minnesota online casino sites. Place your ante and try and make a better hand than the dealer. Cards are controlled by a random number generator (RNG).
Roulette
Roulette is one of the hottest games you'll find at a casino in Minnesota, live or online. Spin the wheel on a number of variants such as American Roulette or European Roulette at MN casinos, pick red, black, or specific numbers or sections of the board and receive odds on the ball landing in your space to win.
Online Blackjack
Dealer deals your cards, and the object is to stop the deal having made a hand value as close to 21 as possible. Get closer to the magic number than the dealer and double your stake or hit that Blackjack (21) and win all the bonus payouts. You might even benefit from extra bonus and insurance payouts with your Minnesota casino online play!
Live Dealer
Live dealer games are your traditional physical casino games but offered to you at home thorough a virtual screen with real people dealing your cards at the other end. It's an Interactive version of the best Minnesota online casino site games.
What Casino Bonuses Will Come to Minnesota?
No Deposit Bonus
A no deposit bonus is an offer where you get bonus cash straight into your account after you register at sites for online gambling Minnesota, no strings attached.
Deposit Match
With a deposit match at a casino, MN you must make that initial deposit and you'll be given bonus funds to the same value as your first deposit. Terms and conditions will apply as well as wagering requirements.
Mobile Bonus
Exclusive mobile-only bonuses are an added incentive for online casinos in Minnesota to get you to sign up and download their online casino gambling app from the Google Play store or Apple store.
Reload Bonus
At Minnesota casinos online a reload bonus is the same as a first deposit or sign-up bonus, only it's for current players who are making a deposit that isn't their initial one.
Free Spins
Free spins can be credited to your online casino Minnesota accounts through bonuses or sometimes through the rewards program. Make more wagers to earn reward points for free spins on selected slot games.
Can I Gamble Online in Minnesota?
Online gambling in Minnesota is not currently permitted but regulated and legal online gambling sites in Minnesota may not be too far away. It is illegal right now to gamble online in MN, but you can use Sweepstakes casinos, play the Minnesota Lottery or partake in Bingo or raffles.
Minnesota Online Casino Laws
Casinos in Minnesota can only be found on tribal lands. The Native's compacts with the state give them control of the gambling environment in MN and there are 11 tribes offering land-based casino and gambling facilities. It is currently illegal to offer online casino gaming in MN but the big tribal casinos will be first to go online when legalization and regulation is passed by the Senate. We hope to see the best Minnesota casinos online by the end of 2023 or early next year.
- Gambling is allowed on tribal lands only.
- Online casino gambling is illegal in Minnesota.
- The House and Senate are holding ongoing talks to legalize online gambling, Minnesota.
- Online casinos may be available in Minnesota towards the end of 2023.
Sweepstakes Casinos in Minnesota
Sweepstakes casinos or Internet cafes or parlours are physical establishments in Minnesota and other US states that offer online platforms with a variety of games, including slots, blackjack, and roulette. These Sweepstakes casinos or internet parlours operate with players buying a "service" such as internet time.
They then use virtual coins or tokens to play casino games that give the chance to win prizes or various payouts. Internet gambling cafes essentially exploit a loophole in the gambling laws and mimic real money online casinos in America.
When Will Online Casinos be Legal in Minnesota?
We are hoping to see online casinos in Minnesota live and legal later in 2023 or early in 2024. This will depend on the current talks in the legislative processes and Bills passing through the Senate. The 11 native tribes in MN will have a big say in the future of Minnesota sports betting and online casinos in MN.
Who Would Regulate Minnesota Online Casinos?The Minnesota Gambling Control Board and gaming commission will likely oversee and regulate online gambling Minnesota with help from the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA). Gambling Enforcement should conduct criminal and gaming license background checks and investigations, and it currently monitors the 19 tribal casinos in Minnesota regarding compliance issues.
Can I Visit Offshore Online Casinos?
You can but at your own peril. We strictly do not recommend gambling at offshore online casinos. Why? They are not regulated independently and therefore there's no guarantee your own money and funds will be safe should the entity close. There are no guarantees withdrawals will be honored but it has to be said that in most cases there aren't any problems. Online gambling of any sort is still prohibited in Minnesota.
- Illegal in Minnesota.
- Unregulated offshore books that are not independently audited.
- Funds not fully protected or held in a separate account.
- Withdrawals and payouts may not be honored.
Responsible Gambling
For a small minority of Minnesota bettors there is a risk that wagering at online casinos may lead to a gambling problem. The best Minnesota online casino sites will be dedicated to responsible gambling and assist in any sort of casino addiction, be it pull tabs, online slots, poker, or table games. Responsible Gambling links and resources will be available from the home pages of a Minnesota casino, online. Links to tools such as self-exclusion and spending limits will be implemented at online MN casinos.
Organizations that can deliver expert advice in Minnesota on gambling problems are generally only just few clicks away. There is a gambling facility at the Minnesota Department of Human Services to check out or you can talk to the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling if needs be. Play carefully and hopefully you'll never need these tools and resources.
Casinos and Online Casinos in Minnesota
Here are some quick answers to commonly-asked questions about casinos in Minnesota.
Are There Casinos in Minnesota?
There are 19 tribal casinos in Minnesota. The tribes control the gambling scene in MN given compacts negotiated with the State. This is not likely to change anytime soon but we hope to see online casinos active in the near future.
What is The Largest Casino in Minnesota?
With a huge 125,000 square foot gaming floor and 600 rooms attached in the form of a hotel, Mystic Lake Casino resort and hotel is the largest casino complex in the North Star State. A trip well worth taking!
Do Minnesota Casinos Have Hotels?
Mystic Lake Casino Hotel complex is also Minnesota's premier gaming facility and includes three first-class hotel towers, seven destination restaurants, meeting rooms and banquet spaces. Several of the tribal casinos in Minnesota mimic this set up albeit not to the same degree. Hotel Casinos in Minnesota can be great spots for a getaway.
Are Online Casinos Legal in Minnesota?
Not yet, but there are current talks with the House and the Senate with Bills possibly to be passed this or next year that will allow Minnesota casinos online. The 11 Minnesota tribes will have a big say in the outcome of the legislation process which has been going on some time now.
What Minnesota Casinos Will Get an Online License?
It depends on the tribes and the compacts already in place, but we are likely to see an online spread offered by the biggest Tribal casinos in Minnesota, and we can possibly expect to see commercial casinos and the big betting brands like BetMGM and Caesars move into this space in the foreseeable future.
Will I Need to be a Minnesota Resident to Gamble Online?
Yes, you will need to be a Minnesota resident and 21 years of age or older for online gambling and to hold internet casino accounts in Minnesota.
Is Any Kind of Online Gambling Legal in Minnesota?
In Minnesota we have access to the state Lottery, racetracks, pull tabs, bingo, raffles, Internet cafes and land-based casinos to keep us going until online sports betting and online casinos MN are legalized.
What Type of Lottery Games are Legal in Minnesota?
All the usual suspects are available in MN such as Powerball and Mega Millions. We can access jackpot games and scratch games in the Minnesota Lottery. We have the Minnesota lotto America, the North 5 and Pick 3 to sink our teeth into too.
Will I Need to Pay Taxes on my Gambling Winnings?
Yes, we must pay taxes on gambling winning in US states and gambling taxes in Minnesota is no different. The federal and state taxes will vary dependent on the state you are in. Use our Minnesota gambling taxes calculator to aid you in your calculations.
Minnesota Online Casinos FAQ's
Author
Bryan Nicholson is the author of "ANGLES & EDGES: A Journey through the Evolution of Golf Betting and the Markets" and owner of the handicapping service 'Nick's Picks'. As a world-renowned golf betting expert who gladly expands his expertise into covering other top markets like odds boosts and moneyline bets, don't be surprised to also see Bryan writing a piece on golf betting in the near future.