Minnesota Gambling
FAQ / Q&A -- History -- Regulation -- Land Based Casinos -- Fun Facts
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Minnesota Online Casinos and Real Money Slots
Regulation and legality of online gambling
Online gambling is illegal in Minnesota. Compared to other states and their stances on gaming in 2020, they impose some of the most serious legal repercussions in the entire country. The Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (AGED) of the State Department of Public Safety has a specific section dedicated to online gambling.
Such information can certainly strike fear into any casino aficionado’s bones upon first reading it, but the situation isn’t exactly as grim as it seems. There are many other US or offshore sites that are happy to welcome Minnesotan players. Law enforcement rarely pays attention to people playing roulette or slots on an offshore site, so you should be safe.
However, keep in mind that’s still an illegal activity. We are not authorized to give you any legal advice or encourage you to perform an action that may or may not be in compliance with Minnesotan laws. If you do decide to take the risk, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to hide your IP address.
As for future prospects of seeing legal online gambling in Minny, it’s definitely a possibility. In contrast with its strict anti-iGaming laws, the state runs one of the most liberal land-based casino industries in the world.
Believe it or not, they were one of the first states to negotiate a deal under the Indian Gambling Regulatory Act of 1988. The deal doesn’t require any tribal establishment to pay taxes, with the deal being non-renegotiable without the tribes’ approval. With plenty of other brick and mortar venues, the scene is strong.
Efforts have been made to legalize iGaming, only DFS seems to have a real chance of becoming legal in the next year or so. Given the number of land-based venues in Minnesota, there’s bound to be lobbying from both sides of the iGaming spectrum.
The legal status of gambling on the internet in Minnesota is cloudy. The only format of online gambling that is regulated by the Minnesota code is off-track betting on horses. The term ‘online gambling’ or ‘internet gambling’ is nowhere mentioned in the laws which currently apply, but the statutes do mention illegal gambling devices. Someone might argue that by that term the statutes describe a computer, smartphone, or tablet. In reality, Minnesota has never shown any firm intention towards prosecuting online gamblers. No one has ever been arrested and gaming is something that the Minnesota society approaches with a progressive attitude.
History
Long before the United States existed, Native American tribes governed themselves and played different kinds of games of chance and skill. With the first settles came games of European ancestry and gambling has become part of Minnesota’s culture.
Soldiers, railroad workers and Minnesota loggers enjoyed gambling as a common activity. In those days, in the 1800s, some of the widely played games include dice, poker, roulette, faro and hazard. In the early 1900s, people would gamble wheat, corn, cotton, and other products of the farm. Bingo was the first form of gambling to be legalized in Minnesota, in 1945. Two years later, slot machines were banned.
The state lottery and betting on horse races were introduced in the 1980s - Minnesota was a little late to catch up with its neighboring states in these aspects of the industry.
When the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 established the sovereignty of Native American tribes once in for all, local registered tribes were able to negotiate compacts with the state government and open the doors of their tribal gaming facilities - the first of them started running one year following the act. The only other format of gambling in the Gopher State is card club. Card clubs are licensed venues offering poker and card games banked by the house. These venues are associated with existing live horse racing facilities - two of them in Minnesota.
Minnesota casinos have expanded since the original seven Native American gambling facilities were opened. Now, Minnesotans are free to pay a visit over 20 Indian casinos and two racinos. The number of commercial casinos is zero. People don’t have to travel for gambling options though, as tribal casinos offer everything from slot machines and table games to video poker and electronic table games. You won’t find craps and roulette at any of the operating venues in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
The state’s two racetracks are Canterbury Park in Shakopee and Running Aces in Forest Park. Both of them host a card club where patrons can try their luck at blackjack, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em Poker. As for the rest of the casino possibilities, tribal casinos are there for the taking. As opposed to the majority of other states with a developed brick and mortar casino industry where the gambling venues are usually centered on specific areas, in Minnesota there are casinos disbursed evenly throughout the state. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel is the largest, covering 25,000 square feet and housing roughly 4,000 slot machines and 100 table games.
Treasure Island Casino has over 2,400 slot machines on offer, in addition to video poker terminals, blackjack, Three Card Poker and Four Card Poker, Pai Gow and Ultimate Texas Hold’em tables. Treasure Island offers plenty of entertainment through sports and also the commodity of spa and dining facilities. Black Bear Casino Resort is home to more than 1,800 video slot machines, from penny to dollar machines, including progressives and multi-line games. It also features bingo and blackjack games. The latest to open are Shooting Star Casino Bagley and Shooting Star Casino Star Lake.
Neighbouring States: Iowa, Michigan (water border), North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin
At which age can you legally gamble online in Minnesota?
As gambling is illegal in the state of Minnesota, there is no defined age. Even though gambling at an offshore site won’t cause you any trouble, underage gambling is still a big no-no.
Therefore, we would advise you not to play any casino games in Minnesota unless you’re 21 or older.
We used this number because it’s also the limit for entering a brick and mortar casino in the state. Remember, iGaming is still illegal, so take every precaution before going for a few spins.
What games can be played at Minnesota casino sites?
Since there are many online casinos that welcome Minnesotans with open arms, you’re bound to find everything. Sites tend to mix it up when it comes to providers, so you can easily find all the most popular titles at most casinos. If you’re interested in niche ones, a little bit of research is needed before you find them.
Players from the Land of 10,000 Lakes love poker and blackjack, so you can rest assured that the best Minnesota online casinos have plenty of well-tested games for you to indulge in.
Are there live dealer games, too?
Of course. Minnesotans have long been fond of live casino titles, as the weather can often prevent you from venturing out to the nearest tribal venues.
Combining various RNG elements and some clever camerawork, software suppliers can make you feel like you’re there in the studio. Make sure you find a licensed site before you jump the gun and start placing bets.
Which payment methods are available at Minnesota online casinos?
Casinos that are accessible in Minnesota offer pretty much the same payment platforms as you’ll see in most of the country. Not every site is the same, so you might need to make some compromises if you have specific preferences.
The most popular options are, of course, eWallets. Everyone has internet access nowadays, and online wallets are just a great way to enjoy some of the best Minnesota online casinos, all without revealing your credit card information. PayPal is the industry leader, with many newer brands being worthy challengers.
Old school bank/wire transfers are the slowest and least safe of the bunch, but many people still use them because they’re used to it. Credit/debit cards still remain popular, as they’re the easiest to deposit or withdraw with.
If you’re more tech-savvy or into anonymity, cryptocurrencies are the way to go. Withdrawals with them are fast and it’s impossible to manipulate any transactions whatsoever.
Do Minnesota online casinos pay withdrawals right away or not?
This mostly depends on the payment method you’ve chosen. Bank/wire transfers take the longest, with a 5-7 business days waiting times. Cards usually impose a 3-5-day waiting time, so they’re the preferred option.
eWallets, however, are the fastest. Almost every wallet offers instant transfers. If you’re willing to wait 15-60 minutes for lots of extra safety, choose cryptocurrencies.
Fun Facts about Minnesota
- A lot of notable authors, musicians and actors originate from Minnesota. For example, showbiz figures like Chris Pratt, Judy Garland, Terry Gilliam, and Winona Ryder. The name of the town of Winona in Minnesota is how Ryder got her name. Sinclair Lewis, Tim O’Brien, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Neil Gaiman are some of the writers who were born or have lived in the state. Famous musical acts like Bob Dylan, Prince and The Replacements also hail from the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
- Rollerblades were invented in Minnesota by two students in 1980. Scott and Brennan Olson were looking for a way to practice hockey during the off-season, so they designed an ice hockey boot with 3 inline wheels instead of a blade. Scotch tape was invented in 1925 by a college dropout, then twenty-three-year-old lab assistant, Richard Drew from Minnesota.
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