In Minnesota? Want to bet on sports? Don’t know what to do? You’ve come to the right place because this is an all-encompassing guide to betting in Minnesota. We’re about to break down everything you would ever need to know.
A little hint of what’s ahead: the state of Minnesota doesn’t allow betting, however, there are alternative means for bettors in the state. The best part? The alternatives are probably better than licensed platforms away. Keep reading cause this is must-know information.
Quick Minnesota Facts
State | Alabama |
---|---|
⚖️ Sports Betting Laws | ❌Not Available |
👫 Population | 5 Million |
👶 Minimum Gambling Age | 21 Years Old |
🏙️ Retail Sports Betting | ❌Not Available |
🌐 Online Sports Betting | ❌Not Available |
📱 Mobile Sports Betting | ❌Not Available |
🐎 Online Horse Betting | ❌Not Available |
🏆 DFS | ✅ Available |
Is Sports Betting Legal In Minnesota?
No, it’s not legal. Minnesota is one of a dozen states in the US without any form of legal sports betting. However, there’s reason to believe that won’t last that much longer.
Unlike states like Utah, there’s an actual appetite to get legal sports betting — from both residents and more importantly, lawmakers. Multiple bills have been written up in the past, it just hasn’t gotten enough momentum to pass. Currently, one party (the Democrats) controls the House and Senate, which makes passing laws easier. Plus, Democrats are typically more open to betting than Republicans.
The thing is, if it were to be legalized, it would almost surely be done through tribal casinos. Eleven tribes operate 19 casinos in the state so they’d have exclusive rights for sports wgaers too. It would be up to them if they want to set up shop independently or pattern with known operators like DraftKings or FanDuel.
But Minnesota bettors hungry to throw money on sports now don’t need to wait for a new bill to be passed. Nope, there are offshore betting sites that work right now (and have worked for decades). This is our top recommendation for Minnesotans. Allow us to make our case in the rest of this article.
Latest Minnesota Legal Betting Updates
Nov 21, 2024 09:49 AM
With some way to go before legalisation is achieved, many lobby groups are pushing state legislators to amend sports betting laws. However, despite a push for change, offshore bookies are still the number one choie for Minnesota sports fans!
Minnesota Sports Betting Timeline
Here's a quick timeline of events that have transpired in the last year or so regarding legalized betting. As you'll see, there is some progress:
Best Sportsbooks In Each Category in Minnesota
Best overall | |
---|---|
Best bonuses | BetUS |
Most unique bonuses | BetNow |
Top VIP program | MyBookie |
Best reputation | Bovada |
Best sportsbook | |
Best casino | Everygame |
Best mobile app | XBet |
Best for live betting | Everygame |
Best for new players | Bovada |
Best up-and-coming sportsbook | XBet |
Top 7 Minnesota Sports Betting Sites
We get it, there are so many offshore sportsbooks out there, making it hard to select one or two to bet on. That’s why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to recommend our favorites. Favorites, might we add, that we’ve gained after trying out hundreds of places. Here’s our top-7 bookies for Minnesota bettors:
- BetOnline - Competitive odds and early line releases.
- BetUS - Extensive range of betting options across multiple sports.
- Bovada - User-friendly interface and reliable mobile betting experience.
- XBet - Quick payouts and responsive customer support.
- Everygame - Long-standing reputation and multi-language support for international bettors.
- BetNow - Generous welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions for regular players.
- MyBookie - Innovative prop bets and creative wagering opportunities.
#1 BetOnline
#2 BetUS
#3 Bovada
#4 XBet
#5 Everygame
#6 BetNow
#7 MyBookie
Where Are Sportsbooks Like Fanduel, DraftKings, Caesars?
The names in the headline are some of the biggest sportsbook operators in the U.S. — the same goes for ESPN Bet or BetMGM too. The thing is, these are all licensed operators. Thus, they need Minnesota to legalize and grant them a license to operate. That’s off the table until legalization happens.
But even if were legalized, many of these operators face a struggle to enter the state. As we mentioned, Minnesota will likely grant tribal casinos the exclusive right to offer sports betting. Will those casinos want to partner with these operators to service it? Possibly, but there’s no guarantee.
We’re certainly not banking on it. That’s why we think offshore betting sites will remain the best option for Minnesota bettors — and that’s even if it gets legalized. Tribes aren’t the most tech-forward so we're sure any online platform they build will pale in comparison to existing offshore sites and apps.
Latest Minnesota Betting News
Nov 22, 2024 06:57 AM
Local Tracks and Tribes Reportedly Support Deferred Minnesota Sports Betting Bill
Betting On Politics, Esports, Entertainment In Minnesota
If you need one more good reason to just bet at offshore sites, then here’s a biggie: offshore sites exclusively allow bets on “non sports.” By nonsports, we’re referring to outcomes like the U.S. presidential election (which features Minnesota’s governor), award shows (e.g. the Grammys or Oscars), esports, and even scripted WWE. These betting markets are freely available at offshore sites.
Licensed apps, even in states where betting is legal, are almost always barred from allowing wagers on these things. Respective regulators are against allowing it for fear of opening up Pandora’s box to everything betting a bet-able event. We personally think these non-sport markets just “spice things up.” This November, amid NFL season, it’ll be fun to speculate on the presidential outcomes. If you agree, there’s only one avenue to do that — offshore platforms.
Betting Apps In Minnesota
If you’re like most bettors these days, you prefer to bet on the go using your phone. It’s an industry-wide shift that shows zero signs of slowing down. Hell, if virtual reality ever picks up, it’ll only become more widespread.
We get it too. Betting while at the sports bar, work, school, and so on is indeed important. You need that flexibility as a bettor since opportunities always arise in sports. When opportunity does pop up and you’re on the move, reference our guide to betting apps in Minnesota. It’s like this page but laser-focused on the best apps in-state.
Start Betting In Minnesota Today — Our Guides
I know we're throwing a lot of information you’re way right now, but this next stuff is a must-read too. You don’t want to go in blind when sports betting — it’s a recipe for disaster. So here are the essential guides on betting and actually winning at it.
- Top Betting Tips — want to make money wagering? Read this!
- Best Sports Betting Strategies — the above article is a college 101 class to this one, which take your betting to the next level!
- How Do Odds Work — self-explanatory here, learn everything there is to know about understanding betting odds.
- Types of Sports Bets — a complete primer to the various types of sports betting forms.
- Betting Odds Calculator — calculate how much money a bet or parlay pays out
Payment Methods Available For Minnesota Sportsbooks
Many bettors trip themselves up over this one, thinking depositing money is hard just because it’s offshore. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, the best sportsbooks make transferring money in and out as easy as possible. Not only that, but these bookies support the top payment methods you’re used to. Here’s a quick primer on depositing with those payment methods:
- VISA — the co-most popular card accepted on betting sites.
- Mastercard — the other co-most popular card across the betting landscape.
- Bitcoin — the payment method that'll earn you the most free play.
- Bank wire — the tried-and-true payment method.
Minnesota Casinos And Resorts
Casinos in the state of Minnesota are exclusively owned by Native American tribes. If sports betting is ever legalized in the state, it will be with the tribe’s permission, and they will have exclusive rights to operate sportsbooks in their physical venues. The following casinos could be home to sportsbooks in the future if the bill passes and sports betting is legalized in Minnesota:
- Black Bear Casino Resort in Carlton County
- Fond-du-luth Casino in St. Louis County
- Fortune Bay Casino in St. Louis County
- Grand Casino Hinckley in Pine County
- Grand Casino Mille Lacs in Mille Lacs County
- Grand Portage Lodge and Casino in Cook County
- Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel in Renville County
- Little Six Casino in Scott County
- Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Scott County
- Northern Lights Casino in Cass County
- Cedar Lakes Casino in Cass County
- Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort in Yellow Medicine County
- Seven Clans Casino Red Lake in Beltrami County
- Seven Clans Casino Warroad in Roseau County
- Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen County
- Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Goodhue County
- White Oak Casino in Itasca County
The following racetracks could also be home to sports betting in Minnesota:
- Canterbury Park in Scott County
- Running Aces Harness Park in Anoka County.
Click here for full details on off-track betting in Minnesota.
History Of Minnesota Legalization Efforts
The Supreme Court opened the floodgates to sports betting with a landmark ruling in 2018. Since then, there's been a lot of movement in Minnesota to get it legalized in-state. Here's a summary of what's happened over the years:
2018-2019: Opportunities are Not Taken Up
Minnesota has been given an opportunity to collect additional revenue in the form of sports betting. It seems like opposition from Native Americans and their Tribal casinos has been enough to stave off the legalization of sports betting for now.
In 2019 two bills were introduced, one in each chamber, that would have legalized sports betting in the state. They would have tied this opportunity to various brick-and-mortar sites in the state, either Tribal casinos exclusively, or also to racetracks.
Neither bill was able to get much progress in the Minnesota legislature.
2020-2024: Still no Significant Movement Towards Legalization
Minnesotans will have to wait. The foreseeable future holds no concrete clues toward sports legalization. Despite attempts to bring Tribes on board, all 11 still seem concretely opposed to sports legalization.
Betting on Minnesota Sports Teams
Minnesota is blessed with having a major sports team in the "Big 4" leagues. All these teams play games in Minneapolis — the state's mega-city. Here's how you can get action on all four:
Minnesota Vikings
The NFL’s Minnesota Vikings were established in 1961 and had one of the highest winning percentages in the league since then. The team is rebuilding with a new quarterback at the moment so it remains to be seen whether those winnings ways remain or not.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are on the rise, thanks to having a breakout start in Anthony Edwards. He's drawn comparisons t Michael Jordan, but honestly, that's probably premature.
Minnesota Twins
Baseball fans in the state of Minnesota follow the Twins, named after the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Twins have won a pair of World Series in 1987 and 1991 — making them the most successful team in the state.
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild is the state’s only NHL team and a young one to boot. Founded in 1997 and having their first season in 2000, they have limited success since then.
Other Types Of Betting In Minnesota
As we’ve mentioned, there are plenty of tribal-owned casinos in Minnesota. Any one of them will offer the usual range of casino games — tables, slots, poker, and so on. All betting has to be done at the casinos though — no online betting (unless using offshore sites).
We should mention these same casinos also offer horse-race betting. It can be done there, but also at local tracks. A number of racetracks in Minnesota are still up and running, and they support wagering freely on site.
The Minnesota lottery is another option. The Powerball is the big draw of all the mini-games. As of this writing, the prize is up over $40 million. As harsh as the state is on online betting, it actually has an online component to the lottery. There’s an app — not to buy tickets, but to track who’s won.
Daily fantasy sports is also a thing in Minnesota. Technically, there’s no law that outright says it’s ok, but by the same token, nothing says it’s illegal either. So yes, we’ve tried to use DFS platforms in the state and it works perfectly fine.
Legal Sports Betting States
Minnesota isn't the only state we've written in-depth guides on. No, we have one for just about every state. Here are quick links to our most popular ones:
Responsible Gambling In Minnesota
As you explore the offshore options available in Minnesota, we encourage you to keep responsibility at the forefront of your mind. Throwing money on sports is obviously a fun way to spend your time (and money), but it’s essential to approach it with care to ensure it remains a positive experience.
Look, we get it, the excitement of hitting a parlay or slot jackpot is intoxicating. In that hypnotic state, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and want to bet more — “ride the hot hand” as they say. However, it’s important to set limits before you start. Decide in advance how much time and money you’re willing to spend, and stick to those boundaries. Trust us, sticking to these boundaries can be even harder than picking the perfect parlay.
Also, be especially mindful of how gambling makes you feel. If you start to notice that you’re gambling to escape stress or that it’s affecting your mood or relationships, it might be time to push pause. Problem gambling can affect anyone, and it’s crucial to recognize the signs early.
We’ve provided some resources to help you stay on track and maintain a healthy relationship with gambling. These are all online-based and easily accessible:
Gamble Aware (https://www.gambleaware.org/)
A non-profit organization providing resources and support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.
International Center for Responsible Gaming (https://www.icrg.org/)
The International Center for Responsible Gaming (CRG) is a research institution dedicated to promoting safe gambling practices and addressing gambling-related issues.
24/7 Gambling Support Line (https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/about-the-national-problem-gambling-helpline/)
A round-the-clock helpline offering immediate assistance and guidance for those experiencing gambling-related problems.
And here's some help specifically in Minnesota:
Minnesota State Gambling Helpline (https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/adults/services/gambling-problems)
A 24/7 confidential helpline (1-800-333-HOPE) offering support, treatment referrals, and information for individuals dealing with problem gambling in Minnesota.
Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance (https://northstarproblemgambling.org)
Provides resources, educational materials, and treatment referrals for individuals and families affected by gambling addiction across Minnesota.
Project Turnabout – Vanguard Center for Gambling Recovery (https://projectturnabout.org)
Offers specialized inpatient and outpatient treatment programs for individuals struggling with gambling addiction in Minnesota, along with support for their families.