Online Casinos for players from Minnesota in 2024

Introduction

In the United States, the legality of gambling varies by state. Following the 2018 Supreme Court decision (Murphy v. NCAA), states gained the right to legalize sports betting, and many have since done so.

Online gambling, including poker and casino games, is legal in a few states, while others maintain strict prohibitions. The regulatory landscape is complex, with growing calls for federal oversight to establish standardized rules that would ensure a high level of consumer protection and fraud prevention while balancing each state’s independent approach in regulating the industry.

While Minnesota does not yet permit online casinos, there are several legal forms of gambling available within the state. The Minnesota Gambling Control Board regulates various gambling activities, including charitable gambling such as bingo, raffles, and pull tabs.

For more traditional casino-style games, residents can visit one of the many tribal casinos located across the state. These casinos operate under agreements known as compacts, which are negotiated between the state and the federally recognized tribes.

Sports betting is another area where Minnesota is actively exploring potential legislation. While there have been ongoing discussions regarding the legalization of sports betting, particularly in collaboration with tribal casinos, no concrete laws have been passed as of yet.

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Is It Legal to Gamble Online in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, online casinos are currently illegal. Although there has been ongoing discussion among lawmakers about the potential legalization of online gambling, the state has yet to enact any legislation to permit real-money online casinos.

Despite this, the issue remains a topic of debate, particularly during new legislative sessions. There is hope that agreements might eventually be reached between state lawmakers, tribal landowners, and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA) to allow for the legalization of online gambling.

On the other hand, players interested in gambling on the Internet have some alternatives, for example, sweepstakes casinos and social casinos. These platforms mimic online casino games like slots and table games, offering players the chance to win sweepstakes entries for real money prizes, but without actual gambling for cash.

While these sites are technically legal, they do not operate on the same level as regulated real-money online casinos in other states. Some see such model as exploiting the loopholes, but at the time being, they operate without problems in vast majority of US states.

Additionally, horse racing is legal in Minnesota, and there are two racetracks, including Canterbury Park in Shakopee, where people can enjoy betting on races along with other gaming options. Other forms of gambling permitted in the state include charitable gambling, pari-mutuel gambling, lotteries, and tribal gambling.

Which Online Casino Games Can Be Played in Minnesota?

As online gambling is still unregulated in Minnesota, local players have no other but to visit either sweepstakes/ social casinos or offshore casinos that accept players from the United States.

Providing fast-paced gameplay, slot games are largely popular all over the world, and Minnesotans like to play them as well. One of the main reasons why they stand firmly as the number one choice for a vast majority of players is abundant features, versatile themes, and affordability for various budget sizes.

On the other hand, some players prefer to put their skills to the test, rather than merely relying on luck. For that reason, all-time favorites such as baccarat, roulette, and blackjack have a huge fan base among residents of the North Star State. Those looking for something that matchFes a bit of both worlds usually opt for video poker.

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Sports Betting in Minnesota

Sports betting has been a popular topic of discussion in Minnesota, for quite some time. Many residents have been hoping to get the opportunity to legally place bets on sporting events. However, despite this growing demand, sports betting is still illegal in the state, as per the current state of affairs in November 2024.

What comes as quite interesting is that despite a large number of Native American casinos across the state, Minnesota faces significant challenges in passing sports betting legislation. The state has made several attempts over the years to pass legislation, but the process has been slowed by disagreements between the horse racing industry, employees, and shareholders.

One of the attempts to regulate it came in May 2024 with the introduction of state legislation HF 5274, which was built on a previous bill, HF 2000. Unfortunately, the bill failed to pass before the legislative session ended on May 20, 2024, which delayed the potential sports betting legalization in The North Star State until at least 2025.

On the other hand, there are signs that momentum for legal sports betting is growing in Minnesota. In particular, Running Aces Casino, a major gaming facility in the state, has shown support for a bill that would allow sports betting.

While sports betting is not yet legal in Minnesota, there is strong public support for its legalization. According to some polls, around 90% of Minnesotans back a sports betting bill that benefits the horse racing industry, tribal communities, and local charities.

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Gambling Regulators and Associations in Minnesota

There are several institutions in charge of regulating and supervising the gambling industry in Minnesota, each in charge of a different aspect.

One of them is the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Although granted limited authority, this institution is tasked to monitor and inspect the gaming operations, so to ensure that they are compliant with the relevant regulations.

Then there’s the Minnesota Gambling Control Board, whose duty is to provide the resources and regulations for one of the biggest branches in the state’s gambling industry- charitable gambling. This institution regulates pull-tabs, raffles, bingo, paddlewheels, and tipboards.

Committed to maintaining the integrity of its lottery games and maintaining the public’s confidence in its games and operations is The Minnesota State Lottery. To date, the institution has generated large sums of money for a variety of programs such as the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Game and Fish Fund, and the Natural Resources Fund.

Furthermore, the Minnesota Racing Commission’s mission is to ensure the integrity of horse racing and card playing and oversee the proper distribution of funds back into the industry. In addition to this, the Commission takes care of the safety and welfare of both human and equine participants and also promotes the horse racing and breeding industry in Minnesota.

Then there’s the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA) which educates people about the impact of tribal gambling and takes necessary steps to protect it.

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Depositing and Withdrawing when in MN

Check the table below to get a complete insight into withdrawal/deposit and banking term rankings in Minnesota. By clicking on the casino’s name, you will get a detailed insight at the withdrawal and deposit score of each casino and how we determined each.

More information about deposit and withdrawal terms for US players can be found on the deposit and withdrawal methods for US players page.

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Conclusion

Certain forms of gambling in Minnesota operate within a regulated framework that offers residents a variety of legal options. However, the regulation and legalization of emerging trends like online gambling and sports betting are still facing numerous challenges.

Currently, Minnesota does not allow online casinos, though there are alternative platforms such as sweepstakes and social casinos, which offer a way for players to engage with casino-style games without real-money wagering.

Regulators and dedicated institutions like the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA), Minnesota Gambling Control Board, the Minnesota Racing Commission, and the Minnesota State Lottery remain key players in maintaining the industry integrity and consumer protection.

Related Reading

• LCB.org
• Minnesota Indian Gaming Association
• Minnesota Gambling Control Board

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Written by: Michael Shackleford