Gambling Laws In Minnesota
There are a number of laws which affect gambling all across the United States such as the Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). These rules in addition to Minnesota gambling laws have been put in place to curb corruption, put a stop to organized crime and halt racketeering. Although these laws essentially eliminate any entity looking to engage in the business of facilitating bets to turn a profit, they do nothing to harm the recreational bettor from the simple act of placing a bet. Only those who are running illicit businesses for nefarious purposes are targeted, not a lone fan who has placed a bet on who will win next year's Super Bowl.
There is much room left in between the lines on these laws for each state to formulate their own gambling legislation and Minnesota is one such state that has provided such details to its populace. This page is here to help residents of the North Star State understand the gambling laws in Minnesota and what residents are and are not allowed to do when it comes to gambling.
In the Minnesota state legislation, the act of 'Gambling' is not directly defined however there are a variety of precise definitions relating to gambling. 'Bet' is commonly noted to be the most point-blank defined term and you can find the full definition under 609.75, subdivision 2 of the Minnesota state statutes. The legislation also explains what does not constitute as a 'Bet' (subdivision 3) as well as defining terms such as 'Gambling Device' (subdivision 4), 'Gambling Place' (subdivision 5) and 'Sports Bookmaking' (subdivision 7). These could be unlawful or lawful depending on the nature of where and how each term is approached.
Any form of gambling which has not been explicitly authorized by the gambling legislation is indeed unlawful however, it is very important for Minnesota residents to realize that the State is very relaxed on social gambling or casual betting in a private residence. As is the case with federal laws which govern the entire country, Minnesota is similar in that is it is only the business of facilitating bets for profit which is criminalized. So long as bettors in the North Star State are not standing to make a profit, they will largely be left alone as the state legislation even has exclusions and excusals for those who keep wagers in private for no profit, even including owning a 'gambling device' or even 'Sports bookmaking'. The moment that one starts turning a profit, something that was not criminalized becomes a very serious felony which will result in steep fines and prison time.
In short, do not start an underground gambling operation in Minnesota or else the law will find and prosecute you. There are more than enough exceptions in the law for residents to gamble in the privacy of their own homes for profit without having to engage in such nefarious activities. Minnesota residents are lawfully able to play poker for money, bet on the Vikings or even pull the lever on a home recreational slot machine so long as the business aspects of gambling are completely left out of the equation.
Land-Based Gambling In Minnesota
Minnesota has quite a bit of lawful and regulated land based gambling albeit not terribly too exciting for the more seasoned bettor. As stated on the Minnesota Gambling Control Board website, the five forms of lawful gambling are raffles, bingo, pull-tabs, tipboards and paddlewheels. A business must seek a permit and license in order to lawfully operate which the state of Minnesota will happily provide to those who follow the rules. Private social bets, as mentioned earlier in the page, are allowed under state law. For those in the North Star State who desire a more high stakes experience in gambling though, there is only one route to go. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act has exempted Native American tribes from state gambling legislation and individual tribes are able to lawfully operate full Vegas styled casinos. There are a total of 18 tribal casinos located across the entire state which are able to offer all of the major forms of gambling except for sports betting. Land based live poker and classic casino games are a go for all residents to take advantage of at their leisure.
Online Gambling In Minnesota
Along with Minnesota's fairly relaxed gambling laws is a complete omission of the word "Internet" anywhere in the state's legislation. So long as residents follow along the rule of thumb both on the state and federal levels to not engage in the business of facilitating bets for profit, using the internet to place a bet is entirely legal. The federal laws in place however, have all but erased such venues in the United States from operating making it slightly difficult to find a place to make a wager. "Slightly difficult" though is erased from the online gambling lexicon by visiting this page since we have done the legwork and found the answers and loopholes right here for Minnesota locals.
If one simply visits an online gambling site which is located outside of the United States, it is entirely legal for them to accept bets as well as it is legal for any American resident to place a bet there. There are a number of sites which operate legitimate businesses located across the globe which specifically host American bettors and are happy to be the loophole to our laws. Because they are not regulated by U.S. or Minnesota gambling laws, they are capable of providing every major form of gambling whether users want classic casino games, poker and even sports betting without any worries of legal entanglements for themselves or their users. They exist but only a few clicks away from your smart phone or computer.
Popular Gambling Options In Minnesota:
Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos - Online Poker
Bovada is our top choice for legal online gambling sites, hands down. Having been in business for decades, this online gambling site began as an American company only to move to Canada after changing federal laws pushed them to set up shop just outside of Montreal. They continue on to this very day as the #1 service for Americans who wish to legally wager online on anything ranging from Blackjack, Baccarat and virtual slot machines to Texas Hold'em, Omaha hi/lo and also sports betting. Bovada boasts one of the most reputable networks in the industry garnering endorsements from CBS Sports, USA Today and even ESPN routinely cites their lines and odds for sports above those in Las Vegas. Minnesota residents who are looking to place on the Vikings can visit 24/7 and find betting options and wager types which can go well into the future or be placed while watching a game live.
Signing up with Bovada is a 5 minute affair which will have locals celebrating big winnings right off the bar with an amazing welcome bonus. Upon a member's first deposit, this online gambling site boosts the new users account with a 50% free bet welcome bonus worth up to $250 on whatever the bettor wishes. Indeed, the betting opportunities are endless for those in the North Star State as Bovada stands at attention willing and eager to provide an endless supply of action.
| Best Overall Betting Sites | Sports? | Casino? | Poker? | Horses? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| BetOnline | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| SportsBetting | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
The legal gambling age for those in the state of Minnesota is 18 years or older however there are some tribal casinos which may have age restrictions set to 21 or older due to alcohol on the premises. The legal betting age for any resident which wishes to gamble on one of the Minnesota gambling sites which we recommend is 18 years of age or older. Minnesota gambling code does not set punishment for violation of minimum betting ages however brick-and-mortar Minnesota gambling operations, and certainly online gambling sites accepting Minnesota players do have rules and procedures for dealing with this problem. We recommend avoiding that situation entirely and waiting until you are of age to risk money on any game of chance, or even games of skill too.
Best For All Gaming Types
