Mn Gambling Rules

The state of Minnesota’s online and offline gambling laws are reasonable when it comes to gambling online or offline. From what we researched about Minnesota gambling laws the only thing we can find to be illegal for online gamblers is operating an online gambling website. Players of online gambling websites are never arrested or charged with a crime because there are no laws referring to online gambling. To be completely safe and within the law when gambling online, please choose one of our online gambling websites. Whichever site you choose it is sure to become your favorite with all the promotions, bonuses, games, and other options available to Minnesota residents. We hope you enjoy these gambling sites and we know you will be safe.

Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, 700 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

We are not authorities of the law and only offer a quick run thought of Minnesota online gambling laws. If you would like more detailed information or a professional consultation about Minnesota gambling laws please talk to a lawyer.

  • There are a few forms of legal gambling in Minnesota: pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, a card club at Canterbury Park, Indian tribal casinos, charitable gambling, and a state lottery. Lawful gambling and gambling devices are governed by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 349 and are overseen by the Gambling.
  • The state of Minnesota’s online and offline gambling laws are reasonable when it comes to gambling online or offline. From what we researched about Minnesota gambling laws the only thing we can find to be illegal for online gamblers is operating an online gambling website.

Minnesota Gambling Laws

Section 609.75

GAMBLING; DEFINITIONS

Subdivision 1.Lottery –

(a) A lottery is a plan which provides for the distribution of money, property or other reward or benefit to persons selected by chance from among participants some or all of whom have given a consideration for the chance of being selected. A participant’s payment for use of a 900 telephone number or another means of communication that results in payment to the sponsor of the plan constitutes consideration under this paragraph.

(b) An in-package chance promotion is not a lottery if all of the following are met:

(1) participation is available, free and without purchase of the package, from the retailer or by mail or toll-free telephone request to the sponsor for entry or for a game piece;

(2) the label of the promotional package and any related advertising clearly states any method of participation and the scheduled termination date of the promotion;

(3) the sponsor on request provides a retailer with a supply of entry forms or game pieces adequate to permit free participation in the promotion by the retailer’s customers;

(4) the sponsor does not misrepresent a participant’s chances of winning any prize;

(5) the sponsor randomly distributes all game pieces and maintains records of random distribution for at least one year after the termination date of the promotion;

(6) all prizes are randomly awarded if game pieces are not used in the promotion; and

(7) the sponsor provides on request of a state agency a record of the names and addresses of all winners of prizes valued at $100 or more, if the request is made within one year after the termination date of the promotion.

(c) Except as provided by section 299L.07, acts in this state in furtherance of a lottery conducted outside of this state are included notwithstanding its validity where conducted.

(d) The distribution of property, or other reward or benefit by an employer to persons selected by chance from among participants, all of whom:

(1) have made a contribution through a payroll or pension deduction campaign to a registered combined charitable organization, within the meaning of section 43A.50; or

(2) have paid other consideration to the employer entirely for the benefit of such a registered combined charitable organization, as a precondition to the chance of being selected, is not a lottery if:

(i) all of the persons eligible to be selected are employed by or retirees of the employer; and

(ii) the cost of the property or other reward or benefit distributed and all costs associated with the distribution are borne by the employer.

Subd. 2.Bet.

A bet is a bargain whereby the parties mutually agree to a gain or loss by one to the other of specified money, property or benefit dependent upon chance although the chance is accompanied by some element of skill.

Mn Gambling Rules

Subd. 3.What are not bets –

The following are not bets:

(1) a contract to insure, indemnify, guarantee or otherwise compensate another for a harm or loss sustained, even though the loss depends upon chance;

(2) a contract for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities or other commodities;

(3) offers of purses, prizes or premiums to the actual contestants in any bona fide contest for the determination of skill, speed, strength, endurance, or quality or to the bona fide owners of animals or other property entered in such a contest;

(4) the game of bingo when conducted in compliance with sections 349.11 to 349.23;

(5) a private social bet not part of or incidental to organized, commercialized, or systematic gambling;

(6) the operation of equipment or the conduct of a raffle under sections 349.11 to 349.22, by an organization licensed by the Gambling Control Board or an organization exempt from licensing under section 349.166;

(7) pari-mutuel betting on horse racing when the betting is conducted under chapter 240; and

(8) the purchase and sale of state lottery tickets under chapter 349A.

Subd. 4. Gambling device-

A gambling device is a contrivance the purpose of which is that for a consideration a player is afforded an opportunity to obtain something of value, other than free plays, automatically from the machine or otherwise, the award of which is determined principally by chance, whether or not the contrivance is actually played. “Gambling device” also includes a video game of chance, as defined in subdivision 8. Subd. 4a.Associated equipment. Associated equipment means any equipment used in connection with gambling that would not be classified as a gambling device, including but not limited to: cards, dice, computerized systems of betting at a race book or sports pool, computerized systems for monitoring slot machines or games of chance, devices for weighing or counting money, and links which connect progressive slot machines.

Subd. 5.Gambling place.

A gambling place is a location or structure, stationary or movable, or any part thereof, wherein, as one of its uses, betting is permitted or promoted, a lottery is conducted or assisted or a gambling device is operated.

Subd. 6.Bucket shop –

A bucket shop is a place wherein the operator is engaged in making bets in the form of purchases or sales on public exchanges of securities, commodities or other personal property for future delivery to be settled at prices dependent on the chance of those prevailing at the public exchanges without a bona fide purchase or sale being in fact made on a board of trade or exchange.

Subd. 7.Sports bookmaking –

Sports bookmaking is the activity of intentionally receiving, recording or forwarding within any 30-day period more than five bets, or offers to bet, that total more than $2,500 on any one or more sporting events.

Subd. 8.Video game of chance –

A video game of chance is a game or device that simulates one or more games commonly referred to as poker, blackjack, craps, hi-lo, roulette, or other common gambling forms, though not offering any type of pecuniary award or gain to players. The term also includes any video game having one or more of the following characteristics:

(1) it is primarily a game of chance, and has no substantial elements of skill involved;

(2) it awards game credits or replays and contains a meter or device that records unplayed credits or replays. A video game that simulates horse racing that does not involve a prize payout is not a video game of chance.

Subd. 9.900 telephone number –

A 900 telephone number is a ten-digit number, the first three numbers of which are from 900 to 999. Subd. 10.Game. A game means any game played with cards, dice, equipment, or any mechanical or electronic device or machine for money or other value, whether or not approved by law, and includes, but is not limited to: card and dice games of chance, slot machines, banking or percentage games, video games of chance, sports pools, pari-mutuel betting, and race book. “Game” does not include any private social bet.

Subd. 11.Authorized gambling activity –

An authorized gambling activity means any form of gambling authorized by and operated in conformance with law.

Subd. 12.Authorized gambling establishment –

An authorized gambling establishment means any premises where gambling authorized by law is occurring.

Subd. 13.Applicability of definitions –

For the purposes of sections 609.75 to 609.762, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Section 609.755

ACTS OF OR RELATING TO GAMBLING

Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a misdemeanor:

(1) makes a bet;

(2) sells or transfers a chance to participate in a lottery;

(3) disseminates information about a lottery, except a lottery conducted by an adjoining state, with intent to encourage participation therein;

(4) permits a structure or location owned or occupied by the actor or under the actor’s control to be used as a gambling place; or

(5) except where authorized by statute, possesses a gambling device.

Clause (5) does not prohibit possession of a gambling device in a person’s dwelling for amusement purposes in a manner that does not afford players an opportunity to obtain anything of value.

Section 609.76

OTHER ACTS RELATING TO GAMBLING

Subdivision 1.Gross misdemeanors –

Whoever does any of the following may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both:

(1) maintains or operates a gambling place or operates a bucket shop;

Rules

(2) intentionally participates in the income of a gambling place or bucket shop;

(3) conducts a lottery, or, with intent to conduct a lottery, possesses facilities for doing so;

(4) sets up for use for the purpose of gambling, or collects the proceeds of, any gambling device or bucket shop;

(5) except as provided in section 299L.07, manufactures, sells, offers for sale, or otherwise provides, in whole or any part thereof, any gambling device including those defined in section 349.30, subdivision 2;

(6) with intent that it be so used, manufactures, sells, or offers for sale any facility for conducting a lottery, except as provided by section 299L.07; or

(7) receives, records, or forwards bets or offers to bet or, with intent to receive, record, or forward bets or offers to bet, possesses facilities to do so.

Subd. 2.Sports bookmaking –

Whoever engages in sports bookmaking is guilty of a felony.

Subd. 3.Cheating –

Whoever cheats in a game, as described in this subdivision, is subject to the following penalties:

(i) if the person holds a license related to gambling or is an employee of the licensee, the person is guilty of a felony; and

(ii) any other person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. Any person who is a repeat offender is guilty of a felony.

A person cheats in a game by intentionally:

(1) altering or misrepresenting the outcome of a game or event on which wagers have been made, after the outcome is determined, but before the outcome is revealed to the players;

(2) placing, canceling, increasing, or decreasing a bet after acquiring knowledge, not available to other players, of the outcome of the game or subject of the bet, or of events affecting the outcome of the game or subject of the bet;

(3) claiming or collecting money or anything of value from a game or authorized gambling establishment not won or earned from the game or authorized gambling establishment;

(4) manipulating a gambling device or associated equipment to affect the outcome of the game or the number of plays or credits available on the game; or

(5) otherwise altering the elements of chance or methods of selection or criteria which determine the result of the game or amount or frequency of payment of the game.

Subd. 4.Certain devices prohibited

(a) Whoever uses or possesses a probability-calculating or outcome-affecting device at an authorized gambling establishment is guilty of a felony. For purposes of this subdivision, a “probability-calculating” or “outcome-affecting” device is any device to assist in:

(1) projecting the outcome of a game other than pari-mutuel betting authorized by chapter 240;

(2) keeping track of or counting cards used in a game;

(3) analyzing the probability of the occurrence of an event relating to a game other than pari-mutuel betting authorized by chapter 240; or

(4) analyzing the strategy for playing or betting in a game other than pari-mutuel betting authorized by chapter 240.

For purposes of this section, a book, graph, periodical, chart, or pamphlet is not a “probability-calculating” or “outcome-affecting” device.

(b) Whoever uses, or possesses with intent to use, a key or other instrument for the purpose of opening, entering, and affecting the operation of any game or gambling device or for removing money, chips, tokens, or other contents from therein, is guilty of a felony. This paragraph does not apply to an agent or employee of an authorized gambling establishment acting within the scope of employment.

Subd. 5.Counterfeit chips prohibited –

Whoever intentionally uses counterfeit chips or tokens to play a game at an authorized gambling establishment as defined in section 609.75, subdivision 5, designed to be played with or operated by chips or tokens is guilty of a felony. For purposes of this subdivision, counterfeit chips or tokens are chips or tokens not approved by the government regulatory agency for use in an authorized gambling activity. Subd. 6.Manufacture, sale, and modification prohibited.

(a) Whoever manufactures, sells, distributes, or otherwise provides cards, chips, tokens, dice, or other equipment or devices intended to be used to violate this section, is guilty of a felony.

(b) Whoever intentionally marks, alters, or otherwise modifies lawful associated equipment or gambling devices for the purpose of violating this section is guilty of a felony.

Subd. 7.Instruction –

Whoever instructs another person to violate the provisions of this section, with the intent that the information or knowledge conveyed be used to violate this section, is guilty of a felony.

Subd. 8.Value of chips or tokens –

The value of chips or tokens approved for use in a game designed to be played with or operated by chips or tokens, as the term “value” is used in section 609.52, is the amount or denomination shown on the face of the chip or token representing United States currency. Chips used in tournament play at a card club at a class A facility have no United States currency value.

Sources:

  • Bingo (1945), Horseracing (1983), Lottery (1988), Casinos (1989), Card Clubs (1999)
  • $100 million
  • $700 million
  • 18, although some casinos limit action to 21+
  • Smoking is banned in card clubs. It does not apply to tribal casinos.
  • Horse racing is the only legal form of online gambling

Minnesota Casino Locations: Shakopee, Forest Lake, Red Lake, Carlton, Cass Lake, Bagley, Grand Portage, Welch, Deer River, Mahnomen, Onamia, Star Lake, Thief River Falls, Hinckley, Morton, Warroad, Prior Lake, Duluth, Tower and Granite Falls. For individual casino locations, you can check out our interactive Minnesota casinos map.

Minnesota gambling offers a number of options to choose from. It all started with bingo in the 1940’s. Minnesota caught up to neighboring states in the 1980’s when it legalized horse racing and pari-mutuel pools related to it. A state lottery was added later in the 80’s. Seven Minnesota tribes received permission to offer slots and video poker around the same time.

Minnesota casinos have since expanded. Blackjack and electronic table games are allowed at Native American casinos on reservation land. Card club licenses were created to permit Canterbury Park to reopen its shuttered track and fund it with revenue from poker and card games banked by the house. Running Aces later obtained the same license.

Paying Gambling Taxes in Minnesota

Did you know your gambling winnings are subject to federal income tax? OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos has gathered everything you need to know about paying taxes. Find out how to report your gambling income with our detailed Gambling Taxes Guide.

Minnesota Casinos Map & Guide

  • Canterbury Park
  • Running Aces
  • Treasure Island
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Types of Minnesota Online Gambling Allowed

The only form of legal Minnesota online gambling is off-track betting on horses. Sites like TVG, TwinSpires, and BetAmerica accept players from the state. Races at Running Aces and Canterbury Park may not be wagered on through these websites and mobile apps.

Mn gambling license

Daily fantasy sports sites consider Minnesota a state where the contests are legal. The state legislature and attorney general have not given any reason to think otherwise. DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo!, and CBS Sports are among the sites that accept Minnesota players.

The Minnesota Lottery once sold tickets over the Internet. The state legislature tried twice to force the lottery out of the business of online sales. It was successful the second time.

Types of Live Minnesota Gambling

  • Slots: Yes
  • Blackjack: Yes
  • Poker: Yes
  • Craps/Roulette: No
  • Horses: Yes
  • Lottery: Yes

There are many types of legalized Minnesota gambling. Charities may hold bingo games and raffles. The Minnesota Lottery sells scratch-off and lotto tickets at convenience stores throughout the state.

Canterbury Park and Running Aces have live horse racing. They also have a card club that offers poker, blackjack, Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, baccarat and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. Off-track betting is also available at both of these tracks.

Native American Minnesota casinos may offer slots, video poker, and blackjack. Bars offer video pull-tab games. These mimic slot machines. These were rolled out to help pay for a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. That has been a disaster as the games are not popular among tavern patrons.

Minnesota Gambling Laws

Minnesota gambling laws carve out many forms of gambling. It allows horse racing and off-track betting. Registered charities may offer games of chance like raffles and bingo. The state lottery may also offer games of chance.

Regulations

Reservations are the only places in Minnesota where slots and video poker are legal. Tribes must create a compact with the state and pay fees to offer electronic games. Blackjack is permitted at these tribal Minnesota casinos but is exempted from the fee requirements as it is also available at card clubs.

Racetracks are permitted to operate poker rooms. This also includes house-banked games that use cards. Permitted and taxable games include Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, blackjack, and baccarat. The maximum poker bet is $100. This does not apply to table games. Card clubs get around this rule by offering timed tournaments where each chip equals one dollar. Prizes are awarded dollar-for-dollar on redeemed chips once the timed tournament ends.

Craps and roulette are not permitted in Minnesota. This includes card clubs and Native American casinos in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Lottery may only sell tickets through retailers. The state legislature made it unlawful for lottery tickets to be sold at gas pumps or over the Internet.

The only form of gambling permitted in bars that do not hold a gaming license is electronic pull-tabs. These mimic slot machines but are played on tablets. Proceeds go to charity and funding towards the new stadium that is home to the Minnesota Vikings.

The minimum gambling age in Minnesota is 18 years. Minnesota casinos that serve alcohol may impose a minimum gambling age of 21 years. Many choose to do so, while card clubs do not.

List of Minnesota Casino Locations

Canterbury Park in Shakopee and Running Aces in Forest Park are home to the state’s two racetracks. Each also has a card club that includes a poker room, blackjack, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.

There are 21 Indian casinos in Minnesota, with two of them currently under construction. This is where players will find slots, video poker, and blackjack tables. Electronic table games are also spread at some of these venues.

Find the full list of Minnesota casino locations, websites, and other information below. For a detailed guide on how to get to a casino, use our Minnesota casinos map to find the nearest one.

CasinoSizeAddressWebsite
Black Bear Casino – Carlton2,000 Slot Machines1785 Highway 210www.blackbearcasinoresort.com
Fond-du-Luth Casino – Duluth750 Slot Machines129 East Superior St.www.fondduluthcasino.com
Fortune Bay Casino – Tower800 Slot Machines1430 Bois Forte Rd.www.fortunebay.com
Grand Casino – Hinckley2,100 Slot Machines777 Lady Luck Dr.www.grandcasinomn.com
Grand Casino Mille Lacs – Onamia1,900 Slot Machines777 Grand Ave.www.grandcasinomn.com
Grand Portage Casino400 Slot Machines80 Casino Dr.www.grandportage.com
Firefly Creek Bingo – Granite Falls472 Slot Machines2511 565th St.www.uppersiouxcommunity-nsn.gov
Jackpot Junction Casino – Morton1,250 Slot Machines39375 County Hwy 24www.jackpotjunction.com
Little Six Casino – Prior Lake800 Slot Machines2450 Sioux Trail N.W.www.littlesixcasino.com
Mystic Lake Casino – Prior Lake4,000 Slot Machines2400 Mystic Lake Blvd.www.mysticlake.com
Northern Lights Casino – Walker924 Slot Machines680 Y Frontage Rd. N.W.www.northernlightscasino.com
Palace Casino – Cass Lake500 Slot Machines6280 Upper Cass Frontage Rd. N.W.www.palacecasinohotel.com
Prairie’s Edge Casino – Granite Falls1,000 Slot Machines5616 Prairie’s Edge Ln.www.prairiesedgecasino.com
Seven Clans Casino – Red Lake315 Slot Machines10200 Highway 89www.sevenclanscasino.com
Seven Clans Casino – Thief River Falls750 Slot Machines20595 Center Street E.www.sevenclanscasino.com
Seven Clans Casino – Warroad480 Slot Machines1012 East Lake St.www.sevenclanscasino.com
Shooting Star Casino – Mahnomen1,000 Slot Machines777 Casino Rd.www.starcasino.com
Shooting Star Casino – BagleyOpens in 2016County Highway 27www.starcasino.com
Shooting Star Casino – Star LakeOpens in 2017County Road 41www.starcasino.com
Treasure Island Casino – Welch2,400 Slot Machines5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd.www.ticasino.com
White Oak Casino – Deer River300 Slot Machines45830 US Highway 2www.whiteoakcasino.com

History of Minnesota Gambling

Bingo was the first game of chance legalized in Minnesota; that came in 1945. Only charities may spread bingo games. This was expanded to raffles, paddlewheels and tip boards in 1978. Pull-tabs were added in 1981.

A constitutional amendment to create a legalized horse racing industry was approved in 1982. The framework was added a year later. Off-track betting was legalized in 1989 but ruled unconstitutional in 1992. A constitutional amendment was passed in 1994 to address this but voters rejected it.

There are two tracks today in Minnesota. Canterbury Park has seen many financial problems throughout the years. The loss of simulcast betting saw the track close in 1993. It later reopened and was eventually saved by the addition of a card club, as permitted by the state legislature. Running Aces later entered this same license category. Attempts to permit slots and video poker at Minnesota racetracks have repeatedly failed.

On July 1, 2011, Canterbury Park and Running Aces were forced to temporarily cease operations. This was not due to any action of the businesses. The state legislature and governor failed to agree on a budget. This forced a government shutdown that closed the state’s gaming commission. This was resolved on July 20, 2011, and the tracks and card clubs reopened.

Tribal Casinos Start Operating

Seven Native American casinos gained approval by the state to operate slot games and video poker in 1989. This was one year after the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed by Congress. Blackjack was added in 1991 to the list of approved games.

The Minnesota Vikings received approval for a new stadium in 2012. One of the ways this was to be funded was by electronic pull-tabs in bars. These devices are tablets that offer games that resemble slot machines. While a small percentage of the proceeds go to charity, it was expected to raise $35 million for the stadium. The games failed miserably and did not generate any funds for the stadium. The state was forced to look elsewhere for tax money to pay for the Minnesota Vikings’ stadium.

This was a controversial project for many reasons. One is that the NFL keeps a distance from gambling. Existing gaming companies were not happy with the competition, even though it turned out not to be any threat to other forms of legalized gambling. Conservatives did not want gambling to expand to bars. The games still exist, even with the complete lack of popularity.

Minnesota Casinos & Gambling FAQ

Is horse racing legal in Minnesota?

Yes. There are two tracks in the Twin Cities metropolitan areas; Canterbury Park and Running Aces.

Yes. Running Aces and Canterbury Park offer race books. Apps like TVG, TwinSpires and BetAmerica also offer this action.

Slots, video poker, blackjack and electronic table games are found at Minnesota tribal casinos.

What games are spread by Canterbury and Running Aces?

Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, blackjack, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em are spread by Minnesota card clubs.

Mn Gambling Rules

The minimum Minnesota gamble age is 18 years, but some casinos that serve alcohol restrict patrons under 21 years.

Does the Minnesota Lottery sell tickets over the Internet?

The Minnesota Legislature banned online lottery sales in 2015.

What types of games may charities operate in Minnesota?

Bingo, pull-tabs, raffles, paddlewheels and tip boards are permitted games for charities.

Mn Gambling License

Are daily fantasy sports sites legal in Minnesota?

Mn Gambling Rules And Regulations

Yes. The sites claim exemption under skill game laws.

What daily fantasy sites accept players from Minnesota?

DraftKings, FanDuel, CBS Sports and Yahoo! are the major daily fantasy sports providers that accept players from Minnesota.