Minnesota might be best known for its abundance of lakes but the state has plenty of casinos to boast about too. The North Star State is home to 21 tribal casinos who are authorized to offer slots, video poker, blackjack, baccarat, and more. You’ll also find the same card games at the state’s two race tracks where card rooms can be found. As state lawmakers travel to Iowa to get the facts on legal sports betting, we can only hope that new law will pass in Minnesota soon.
Minnesota Legal Gambling History
Bingo was legalized in Minnesota in 1945, which was restricted to charities only. The rest of the charity gambling games came through after 1978 when the law was extended to raffles and then again for pull-tabs in 1981.
The state of Minnesota legalized track betting in 1982 and has 2 racecourses: Canterbury Park and Running Aces. These tracks also house card rooms for poker, blackjack, and more.
The legality of off-track betting seemed to bounce around a bit after it was legalized in 1989. 2 years later it was ruled unconstitutional, following a passed amendment that was shot down by voters in 1994.
Quick to act, in 1989, 7 Minnesota tribes entered compacts with the state just one year after the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed. The compacts allowed the tribes to host slots and video poker. To this day they are the only gambling operations allowed to have them.
In 2012, after approval for a new stadium, the Minnesota Vikings looked to help fund it by proceeds placed from electronic pull-tab machines placed in bars. This was a controversial move that didn’t pan out for the Vikings. The NFL team had to look elsewhere for their funding, while the pull-tab machines are still standing in barrooms today.
Minnesota Gambling Legal Status
Minnesota has a fair amount of legal gambling options. The state is home to 21 tribal casinos offering slots, video poker, blackjack, baccarat, and more.
Minnesota is home to several card rooms too. What’s unique about them is that they’re allowed inside the state racetracks, where poker rooms host card games such as blackjack, baccarat, pai gow poker, three card poker, and ultimate Texas hold’em. But with one restriction – bets are capped at $100.
Craps and Roulette are illegal in Minnesota and so is online casino gambling.
Charitable gaming is legal in Minnesota where you’ll find bingo, raffles, pull-tabs, and “casino nights hosted by charity organizations.
Minnesota has a state lottery, but only sells tickets through select retailers. This means that it’s not like other state’s where you can walk into any gas station or convenience store and expect them to have lottery tickets for sale. Tickets can not be purchased online either.
Daily fantasy sports are legal in Minnesota where you can play FanDuel, DraftKings, and more.
The legal age to gamble in Minnesota is 18. Some Minnesota casinos may only permit players 21 and up to enter to comply with alcohol laws.
Minnesota Land-Based Casinos
Minnesota is home to 21 tribal casinos where you can find plenty of slots, video poker, poker, blackjack, baccarat, and more. Unfortunately, craps and roulette are a no-go.
Minnesota’s tribal casinos are:
- Black Bear Casino
- Fond-du-Luth Casino
- Fortune Bay Casino
- Grand Casino Hinckley
- Grand Casino Mille Lacs
- Grand Portage Casino
- Firefly Creek Bingo
- Jackpot Junction Casino
- Little Six Casino
- Mystic Lake Casino
- Northern Lights Casino
- Palace Casino
- Prairie’s Edge Casino
- Seven Clans Casino Red Lake
- Seven Clans Casino Thief River Falls
- Seven Clans Casino Warroad
- Shooting Star Casino Mahnomen
- Shooting Star Casino Bagley
- Shooting Star Casino Star Lake
- Treasure Island Casino
- White Oak Casino
Beyond tribal casinos, Minnesota has many card rooms as well. You’ll even find games of poker, blackjack, baccarat, ultimate Texas hold’em, pai gow poker, and three card poker at the state’s two race tracks: Canterbury Park and Running Aces.
Minnesota Legal Daily Fantasy Sports and Sports Betting
Sports betting is currently illegal in Minnesota but the interest has piqued lawmakers who have paid close attention to Iowa, a state that has recently legalized sports betting. Lawmakers have been making trips to Iowa and getting the details first hand. We’ll likely see a sports betting bill come to pass soon.
Daily fantasy sports, on the other hand, are legal in Minnesota, where fan favorites FanDuel and DraftKings are active.
