Minnesota is hot and cold when it comes to gambling. Whilst some forms of gambling are permitted, others are not. Online gambling is not permitted in Minnesota, but the best online casinos we recommend are all based out of the state and can be accessed by residents.
However, there are other forms of gambling which are allowed and residents of Minnesota are accepted by the best online casinos we recommend.
The casino sites we’ve recommended above are safe for all customers and do an excellent job with site security. This means that you can feel confident that you are playing at a secure online casino your money and personal information will be kept secure, no matter which one you choose.
To learn more about online gambling in Minnesota, the legality of casinos and sports betting, and other helpful guidelines, keep reading!
Is Online Gambling Legal in Minnesota?
While the in-state operation of online gambling is illegal in Minnesota, the online casinos we’ve recommended here are 100% available for you to play at.
Why? Because MN residents have access to plenty of great out-of-state legal online casinos. These sites are perfectly safe for you to play at (assuming you stick to our best-of lists).
Gambling Laws in Minnesota
Minnesota has some pretty strict gambling laws. Minnesota Statute (MS) 609.755 states that anyone who “makes a bet” is guilty of a misdemeanor. However, no punishment is given for those who are caught.
MS 609.76 lays out more serious punishments of a year in prison and a $3,000 fine for those who set up gambling businesses and sports betting.
MS 609.761 does make some exceptions to the general prohibition of gambling. These include lawful gambling — which means charitable gaming, a state lottery, and social moors betting online of skill and dice.
Online Gambling in Minnesota
So where does all this leave online gambling? An exception is not made for online gambling and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety states the following:
Online sports betting and online casinos that take your money and offer prizes via the web are illegal in Minnesota. There are websites available that operate outside of the United States to purposefully avoid laws and enforcement… [it] is a crime to participate.
As mentioned, a punishment for this misdemeanor is not specified in law. As a result, we can safely say that any online casino that wished to set up base in Minnesota would be contravening the law. A gray area exists that allows MN residents to access the domains of out of state operators and register accounts with them despite online gambling being prohibited by the state legislature. If players based in the land of 10,000 lakes wish to risk it, they will be accepted.
While the in-state operation of online gambling is illegal in Minnesota, the online casinos we recommended will accept players from MN. If players based in the land of 10,000 lakes wish to risk it, they will be accepted.
Sports Betting in Minnesota
As of 2022, Minnesota hasn’t passed legislation that legalizes in-state operation of online sports betting. The good news is that if you’re a resident looking for Minnesota betting sites, there are several options based outside of the state which will accept you.
Below are our top three recommendations for the best sports betting sites in 2022. Each of these online sportsbooks is safe for MN residents to use and offers fast payouts on winnings.
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BetUS BetUS has the top betting experience, with a variety of betting options to satisfy newcomers and veterans. Visit BetUS -
BetOnline BetOnline has an excellent welcome bonus of 50% up to $1,000 to help get your bankroll started. Visit BetOnline -
Bovada Bovada has been around since 2011, and continues to be one of the most trusted names in the industry. Visit Bovada
Each of the these betting platforms above offers a desktop and mobile app version. This means you can place your bets both at your home computer or from anywhere else you might be. Simply log in to the online betting site that you choose, make a deposit, and begin wagering.
Minnesota State Lottery
Yes, Minnesota does have a state lottery. Following a voter initiative in 1989, the first tickets for Powerball were sold in 1990. Then, 20 years later, in 2010, Mega Millions was added.
Since its 1990 launch, Minnesota’s lottery has generated over $3 billion for state programs, including health services, local government, public safety services, education, natural resources, and parks.
| Draw Games | Scratch Games |
|---|---|
| Powerball | Cashtastic Crossword |
| Mega Millions | Minnesota Vikings |
| Lotto America | Cash Cannon |
| Northstar Cash | Coffee Break Crossword |
| Gopher 5 | Dunk Tank Dollars |
If you want more information about the Minnesota Lottery or to find the closest retailer locations, visit MNLottery.com.
Horse Racing Betting in Minnesota
Pari-mutuel wagering has been allowed at selected racetracks in Minnesota since 1985. There are currently two racetracks operating in the state.
Not only can you place bets at these racetracks, certain card moors betting online — such as blackjack and poker — are also permitted at the racetracks. Pari-mutuel wagering definitely seems sweet in Minnesota!
Charitable Gaming Laws in Minnesota
Charitable gaming is allowed in Minnesota. Exceptions are allowed for in MS 609.761 and are managed by Minnesota Gambling Control Board.
Under the current law, charitable moors betting online can be held by schools as well as registered non-profits. These organizations can hold well-known moors betting online — such as bingo, raffles — as well as less-known moors betting online such as tipboards and paddle wheels. There’s gambling fun to be had in Minnesota provided it’s for a good cause!
History of Gambling in Minnesota
1982: Pari-mutuel betting bill passes, permitting horse racing betting.
1985: State’s first racetrack opens: Canterbury Downs.
1988: first gambling compacts signed with two tribes.
1989: Minnesota lottery established. First tickets sold two years later.
1999: Some cards moors betting online (e.g. poker) allowed at racetracks.
2015: state outlaws selling of lottery tickets online.
2022: bill legalizing sports betting killed by Minnesota Senate.
Future of Gambling in Minnesota
The future of gambling in Minnesota will be decided by the amount of political will there is to legalize sports betting and online gambling in the state.
A bill in favor of sports betting got through the State House this year but was defeated in the Senate.
However, with tough years potentially lying on the horizon, let’s hope Minnesota decides to tap into the easy revenue stream that online gambling and sports betting would bring.
Top Minnesota Casinos Online By Category
Our experts spend thousands of hours poring through hundreds of U.S. online casinos. While not every site is available in every state, you’ll be happy to know, all of our highest-rated gambling sites accept Minnesota players.
Check out our top-rated Minnesota online casinos in several categories:
- Best Deposit Bonuses – Las Atlantis
- Best MN Casino for Slots – SuperSlots.ag
- Fastest Payouts – WildCasino.ag
- Live-Dealer Gaming – BetUS Casino
- Best Casino App With Real-Money Prizes – Slots.lv
- Best Minnesota Poker Site – BetOnline Poker
- Best for Mobile Gaming – Bovada
- Best Customer Support – Las Atlantis
Think about your personal requirements and preferences before picking an online gambling site. One thing’s for sure: any website listed here has top-of-the-line security to ensure customers are safe from data and financial hacking.
Why Are These the Top Minnesota Online Casinos?
For total transparency, we’d like to share how we compiled our list of the top online casino sites. Our in-house review teams check the sites for a long list of requirements to determine the best casinos:
Security, Trust, & Reputation
Our review process starts and ends with security, trust, and reputation. It’s critical that the casino sites we recommend are safe, well-respected in the industry, and trustworthy
An incorrect determination on any of these three elements can be detrimental to both your gambling experience and your personal life. For that reason, this is the most exhaustive part of the process.
Here are the major questions Minnesota online casinos must answer before being recommended:
- Do they have a history of providing a safe gaming environment?
- Do they have an operating license from a reputable source?
- Is the company’s approach to security proactive or reactive?
- Are gaming servers and software regularly updated?
- Are all areas of the casino site adequately encrypted?
- Do they use safe and trusted banking partners?
It’s not easy to pass our security evaluation, but it’ll stay that way.
Game Selection
In MN land-based casinos, slot machines outweigh table moors betting online 65 to 1!
- Slot gaming machines: 21,015
- Table moors betting online: 322
It should come as no surprise that our research shows slot machines are the #1 online casino game in Minnesota, too. Our reviews put extra focus on the quantity, quality, and availability of slot machines at the Minnesota casino sites they review. Table moors betting online, including roulette, blackjack, and craps, aren’t that far behind, but the crown goes to slots.
Prefer to play something different? That’s OK. Check out our recommendations for the best real-money online casinos for each game.
While slots are at the top of the popularity list, many Minnesota gamblers like to play a variety of online casino moors betting online. As such, we give preference to Minnesota online casinos with an excellent variety of moors betting online.
Fast Payouts
It’s a must when gambling for money that the casino site pays customers quickly and reliably. Nowadays, there are no excuses as to why they’re unable to get you paid ASAP.
When we see habitual delays, we attribute that to laziness, bad processes, improper selection of banking partners, or possible financial liquidity issues.
We only recommend the best Minnesota online casinos that guarantee to pay U.S. customers quickly.
Quality Customer Service
- 24/7/365
- Multiple methods of contact
- Phone, email, live chat, social media, contact form
- Extensive FAQs for common questions
- Fluent in English
- Able to assist with simple issues without escalation
These are just a few of the traits we look for in the customer service portion of our reviews. While you never plan on using customer service, it’s inevitable.
All gambling sites and casino apps we recommend come with fast, reliable, and accessible customer service teams. It brings peace of mind knowing you have a support system in place that actually *supports* customers.
Payment Options
Not only do we expect our online casinos to offer fast payments, we also expect them to offer a variety of payment options. Online casinos should offer the well-known legacy payment methods and they should also cater the new kids on the block. For instance:
We want to see the above, plus many more. We also want low to no fees for depositing and withdrawing our money.
UI & Mobile Experience
An online casino’s app is going to be the main interface through which you interact with them. All your gaming will be done through the app and you’ll likely contact customer service through the app as well. Because of this, we expect a premium user interface and mobile experience.
We want our readers to interact with user interfaces which are easy to use and lovely to look at. On top of this, everything should be optimized for mobile. It’s a mobile world these days! Note that most mobile casino apps are accessed via web browser rather than being downloaded as an app onto your mobile device.
Brick-and-Mortar Casinos in Minnesota
The brick-and-mortar casinos in Minnesota are based on tribal lands. On top of this, there are two racetracks where you can place bets and play cards.
Below is a list of all physical casinos in Minnesota.
| Casino Name | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bear Casino Resort | 1785 Highway 210 P.O. Box 777 Carlton, MN 55718 | 888-771-0777 |
| Canterbury Park | 1100 Canterbury Road South, Shakopee, MN 55379 | 800-340-6361 |
| Fond-du-luth Casino | 129 East Superior Street Duluth, MN 55802 | 800-873-0280 |
| Fortune Bay Resort Casino | 1430 Bois Forte Rd, Tower, MN 55790 | (800) 992-7529 |
| Grand Casino Hinckley | 777 Lady Luck Drive Hinckley, MN 55037 | 800-472-6321 |
| Grand Casino Mille Lacs | 777 Grand Avenue Onamia, MN 56359 | 800-626-5825 |
| Grand Portage Lodge & Casino | 70 Casino Dr. Grand Portage, MN 55605 | 800-543-1384 |
| Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel | 39375 County Highway 24 Morton, MN 56270 | 800-946-2274 |
| Little Six Casino | 2450 Sioux Trl NW Prior Lake, MN 55372 | (952) 403-5525 |
| Mystic Lake Casino Hotel | 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd. Prior Lake, MN 55372 | (800) 262-7799 |
| Northern Lights Casino | 6800 Y Frontage Road NW Walker, Minnesota 56484 | 844-554-2646 |
| Cedar Lakes Casino | 6268 Upper Cass Frontage Road NW Cass Lake, MN 56633 | 844-554-2646 |
| Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort | 5616 Prairies Edge Lane Granite Falls, MN 56241 | 320-564-2121 |
| Running Aces Harness Park | 15201 Running Aces Blvd. Columbus, MN 55025 | 877-786-2237 |
| Seven Clans Casino Red Lake | 10200 Hwy. 89 Red Lake, MN 56671 | 888-679-2501 |
| Seven Clans Casino Thief River Falls | 20595 Center Street East Thief River Falls, MN 56701 | 800-881-0712 |
| Seven Clans Casino Warroad | 34966 605th Ave Warroad MN 56763 | 800-815-8293 |
| Shooting Star Casino | 777 Casino Road Mahnomen, MN 56557 | 800-453-7827 |
| Treasure Island Resort & Casino | 5734 Sturgeon Lake Road Welch, MN 55089 | 800-222-7077 |
| White Oak Casino | 45830 US-2, Deer River, MN 56636 | 844-554-2646 |
Sources for Gambling in Minnesota
The following websites are great sources for legal Minnesota gambling content:
- Minnesota Legislature – Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Minnesota Gambling Control Board
- MNLottery.com.
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety
If you want to stay up to date, make sure to check these sites regularly.
Minnesota Online Casinos FAQs
If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for, please contact us to ask your question directly.
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Yes, reputable Minnesota online casinos are entirely safe and secure, even if they aren’t actually operated within state lines. Do your part to ensure the safe environment stays safe! Use a strong password, and don’t store it on your devices. Never log into your account from a shared device.
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The legal age for Minnesota online gambling is 21. If you’re just looking to play the lottery, you only need to be 18.
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All of them! You can play any casino moors betting online when you play at any online gambling sites we’ve recommended. These include table moors betting online, slot machines, sports betting, fantasy sports, keno, bingo, and racebooks.
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Yes, you can play all of these moors betting online for real money at online casinos. Betting sites work hard to replicate the excitement and experience of in-person gambling. Additionally, you can play most online casino moors betting online for free as a trial. Free-play options allow you to test out potential online casino homes to see if you like the experience, or even practice new strategies for a game you haven’t mastered yet.
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They do! We won’t recommend any online gambling sites unless they offer mobile betting. This is only possible with a high-quality, safe, reliable mobile casino gaming Any of the top casino apps listed here offer these capabilities.
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Pari-mutuel betting is legal in the state. You can place bets in person at the two live tracks, Canterbury Park or Running Aces Casino & Racetrack, or online at recommended sites like Bovada that offer sports betting.
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If you’re a resident of Minnesota, then you’re required to pay state taxes on all your winnings. You must report them on your MN tax return.
