Minnesota is well known for being home to over 10,000 lakes. But, unfortunately, when it comes to online casino games, things look a little dry. It is currently not legal to play at Minnesota casinos online or sportsbook operators with real money. The good news is that there are currently talks to review sports betting and Daily Fantasy sports in 2024 (the attempts to legalize them failed in 2023). When it comes to land-based gambling there are Native American casinos, racetracks, and the Minnesota State Lottery available. Social sweepstake casinos are also available, which can be played online although these do not allow for real-money winnings.
Best Minnesota Online Casinos 2024: Play Legally and Safely!
The Best Online Casino Offers in Minnesota
Minnesota, United States
#1 RankBetRivers.netBonus$1,000 Spin to Win Virtual Credits EverydayAbout BetRivers.net
Since 2016, BetRivers.NET has been a powerhouse in the US social casino scene, offering top-quality games from NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and others. With over 700 slots, live casino games, and ongoing tournaments, it’s a must-visit. All players enjoy automatic enrollment in the loyalty scheme and receive free virtual credits every four hours.
Overview- Website us.betrivers.net
- Established 2016
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Payment methods
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GoldSlips Casino, launched in 2023 and available in most states, is quickly gaining traction as a promising social casino. With a straightforward yet engaging platform, we’re eager to see its expansion in bonuses and promotions. Check out our comprehensive review for insights on gameplay, ratings, and more at GoldSlips.
Overview- Website play.goldslips.com
- Established 2023
Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
#3 RankHuuugeBonus4+ Billion Free ChipsAbout Huuuge
Huuuge Casino boasts a robust selection of 201 finely crafted games, making it a major player in the social casino scene since its launch in 2014. Powered by Huuuge Games and supported by well-known providers like Aristocrat and Playtech, it offers over 4 billion free chips for linking your Facebook and Apple ID. Don’t miss the welcome bonus upon login. For more details, dive into our full Huuuge Social Casino review.
Overview- Website huuugecasino.com
- Established 2014
Payment methods
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#4 RankCasino4FunBonus500 VC$ on sign-upAbout Casino4Fun
Rush Games Casino4Fun has become a favorite among online social casinos, offering easy account setup and daily virtual coin benefits. Since its 2023 launch, players enjoy jackpot promotions and games ranging from live craps to popular slots crafted by top industry developers. See what our experts at Lucky Gambler have to say about Rush Games Casino4Fun.
Overview- Website www.rushgames.com
- Established 2023
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Payment methods
21+ | New Player Only - T&C Apply
Minnesota Online Gambling Laws
There are also no laws that specify that a Minnesotan resident can’t play any offshore online casinos. The federal laws that cover this area have a primary focus on gambling operators and not the players. There is, for example, the Federal Wire Act that prohibits operators from setting up inter-state gambling platforms.
How does Minnesota Regulate Gambling?
The Minnesota Gambling Control Board is responsible for overseeing all forms of gambling within the state outside of tribal casinos. This includes social casinos, pari-mutuel wagering, and charitable gambling. Registered non-profit organizations can apply to the Gambling Control Board to allow for gambling activities, such as bingo, raffles, and pull-tabs.
The land-based casinos that are Native American operate and work together with the Gambling Control Board and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. Eleven federally recognized tribes inhabit the state with all Native American casinos being regulated by their own distinct tribal gambling authorities.
The state-run lottery is overseen by a director who is appointed by the governor. You should be starting to get the picture that the way gambling is regulated is currently fairly decentralized. This may however change if legal online gambling becomes a thing, where it would most likely be necessary for the Minnesota Gambling Control Board to take on much broader responsibilities.
Online Casino Gambling in Minnesota
There are currently no Minnesota online casinos in operation. It doesn’t look like legal online gambling sites will be coming any time soon either, unfortunately. The only way to play online casino games is through social casinos. These provide legal online casino gaming due to the fact that players are not able to cash out any potential winnings.
This also means that all the best Minnesota online casinos right now are all social casinos. These still look and feel like your standard real-money platforms and even include online casino bonuses for players. Slots and table games are offered at these sites. This is the closest a Minnesotan resident can get to legally gamble online within the state right now. This does mean that the state is missing out on a potentially huge revenue source through taxing the online gambling industry.
Minnesota Online Poker
Only a poker room within a tribal casino can facilitate legal live dealer games. The only alternative to this is private poker tournaments with no buy-ins, no fees, and low-value prizes. Home games are allowed, but only if there is no profit or house rake involved. So, you can play poker as long as money doesn’t change hands.
Minnesota Daily Fantasy Sports
The age-old debate as to whether Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is a game of chance or a game of skill is still a contested issue for some in the US. There was an attempt to regulate DFS in the state, however, this wasn’t able to go through. Despite this, DraftKings and FanDuel still provide their online services to Minnesotans seemingly without any repercussions.
Minnesota Sports Betting
Sports betting is currently illegal for both land-based and online establishments within the state. The only exception to this is pari-mutuel betting. There has however been good news for those hoping Minnesota will legalize online gambling for sports. Both The Indian Gaming Association and State Senator Jeremy Miller seem to be keen on legalizing sports and there is hope change will come in the course of 2024.
Minnesota Online Horse Betting
There are a number of different horse racing tracks throughout the state with the most prominent being Canterbury Park. Minnesotans can legally wager on pari-mutuel betting for horse racing events, but this is the only way to legally gamble on sports within the state. Online horse betting, like all other forms of sports, remains illegal.
Minnesota Lottery
Minnesota State Lottery was legalized in 1988 and residents can since enjoy draw, scratch, and inter-state lottery games. It is not possible to buy any form of lottery ticket online, meaning they must be purchased from authorized retail vendors. You must be at least 18 years of age to purchase a lottery ticket.
Minnesota Land Based Casinos
There are now almost two dozen casinos currently operating within the North Star State, all being run by Native American tribes. The largest is the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel with over 1,000 slot machines and over 100 table games available\, including European Roulette. Below we have listed some of the top Minnesota land-based casinos.
History of Gambling Legislation in Minnesota
Minnesota gambling laws were very limited up until 1982. Before that point, it was only legal to wager in the context of charitable gambling with raffles for example. This changed when the Minnesota legislature allowed for pari-mutuel betting in 1982. Further advances were made in 1989 when the Minnesota State Lottery was formed after a successful voter referendum in 1988.
The US Supreme Court repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018. This paved the way for states to have their own freedoms when it comes to granting licenses for online sports betting. While 38 states have so far made it legal to bet on sports online, Minnesota currently hasn’t taken those steps to legalize.
This may however change over the course of 2024 thanks to Senator Jeremy Miller. He has already published his Minnesota Sports Betting Act 2.0, which seeks to address the fact that Minnesota is currently missing out on a $100-billion industry. This makes us hopeful that this is just the first step on the road to making online gambling legal across the board.
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FAQ
What is the gambling age in Minnesota?
The legal gambling age is 18 in Minnesota. Legal online casinos showing up may raise this to 21 years to be in line with other US states that already have regulated online gambling.
Who regulates gambling in Minnesota?
It is regulated by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board. However, individual tribal gambling authorities are in control of regulating their establishments.
Are online casinos legal in Minnesota?
Real-money online casinos cannot legally operate in Minnesota at this time. There are however no state or federal laws that regulate online gambling when it comes to playing at overseas establishments.
Can I win real money at Minnesota online casinos?
It is not currently possible to win real money at online casinos in Minnesota. Only social casinos are available from within the state, which do not allow for cashing out any winnings. It is also technically not illegal to play at off-shore online casinos.
Are gambling winnings taxable in Minnesota?
Gambling winnings count towards your income when considering how you will be taxed. The amount you will be taxed for gambling winnings will therefore depend on which tax bracket you fit into when combining your regular income with any winnings received from gambling.
When will online casinos be legal in Minnesota?
There are high hopes that legal online sports betting will eventually materialize, as has been seen in many other states. However, there are only a few states that have gone all the way with allowing for legal online casino games. Therefore, nobody is sure if and when it will become legal in Minnesota.
I have worked in and around the Sports Betting and iGaming industries for over 20 years and quite frankly. I have been a full time iGaming writer for approximately four years, working for some of the top affiliate websites on the Internet.