Online betting in Minnesota

What Gambling Is Legal in Minnesota

Sports Betting in Minnesota: Not Legal

Is online gambling legal in Minnesota for sports betting specifically? No. There are no licensed sportsbooks in the state, and that goes for both retail and online.

Any betting app advertised to Minnesota residents is unlicensed, or it requires you to be in another state to use it legally.

Daily Fantasy Sports in Minnesota: A Legal Grey Area

The state of Minnesota has never passed a bill for daily fantasy sports. It hasn’t banned it either. DraftKings, FanDuel, Underdog, and PrizePicks all offer DFS in the state and accept residents over 18. They operate in a grey area, with no regulator overseeing their operations.

Check the Minnesota daily fantasy sports coverage for what’s live in the state as of September 2026.

Online Casino in Minnesota: Not Legal

Minnesota online casinos and online casino Minnesota are two high volume searches that return the same answer: not legal in the state.

There are no licensed online casino operators that offer real-money gaming in the state.

What Is Legal: Tribal Casinos, Racing and the Lottery

A total of 19 tribal casinos run in Minnesota, owned and run by 11 federally recognized tribes. Pari-mutuel racing at Running Aces and Canterbury Park is legal as well.

The Minnesota State Lottery and charitable pull-tabs are also legal in the state. Age-wise, it’s 18 for the lottery, fantasy contests, racing, and tribal casinos. The age limit goes up to 21 at properties that serve alcohol on the gaming floor.

Who Regulates Gambling in Minnesota

There Is No Single Gambling Regulator

Minnesota gambling oversight splits in four ways. The Gambling Control Board covers charitable gaming. Horse racing is covered by the Minnesota Racing Commission. The Minnesota State Lottery runs itself.

Tribal casinos operate under federal laws, so they don’t need state agency supervision. There’s no single gambling regulator that covers all categories. Prediction markets fall under the CFTC, and are regulated federally rather than locally.

Who Handles What

No Minnesota agency regulates DFS, while the other forms of gambling have been mentioned above. That’s why the DFS operates in a statutory grey zone.

Minnesota’s Class III tribal compacts are live and were signed between 1989 and 1991. They have no expiry date and require no revenue sharing. This is a unique feat nationally, and a major reason why the tribes have a negotiating advantage on sports betting in the state.

Where to Get Help in Minnesota

Minnesota’s responsible gaming helpline is 1-800-333-HOPE. Help is also available via the Northstar Problem Gambling Alliance. In both cases, players can reach out to get judgment-free assistance and professional help.

See the responsible gambling resources page for more info.

Where to Bet in Minnesota

Fantasy Sports Platforms

DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, and Underdog all offer daily fantasy sports contests in Minnesota. They don’t have a separate DFS license, and operate in a grey zone.

See the Minnesota-specific daily fantasy coverage for the current lineup of DFS operators. When it comes to sports betting in Minnesota, none of these operators, or any others, holds a license for such operations because there’s no legal market yet.

Crossing a State Line

Minnesota residents may legally bet on sports in neighboring states that have legal markets. They have to be physically located in states such as Wisconsin to place wagers on sports events.

Geolocation decides it, not where you live. See how licensed sportsbooks work in states where legal markets exist.

Federally regulated alternatives are available as well. Check the predictions market tracker, including Kalshi, to see where event contracts are available under CFTC oversight.

What to Avoid

As sports betting is not legal in Minnesota, offshore platforms target their ads to this state specifically. However, it should be noted that they hold no state license, and offer no regulated dispute routes. Also, the deposits you make at these platforms are not protected.

Online searches such as “Is [offshore brand] legal in Minnesota?” return not legal results, showing readers what they want to know. The simple answer is that they aren’t licensed, regardless of the ads.

Tax on Gambling Winnings in Minnesota

Tax on Gambling Winnings in Minnesota

These rates are among the highest in the country. Most players will sit in the lower brackets rather than paying the top figure on their winnings.

What You Still Owe Federally

Federal taxes apply on the taxable winnings. Minnesota residents who bet legally in Wisconsin or Iowa must report that income at home. Winnings from offshore platforms are taxable too.

Licensed operators issue a W-2G once a payout crosses the federal reporting threshold. This is general information, not tax advice. Players should inform themselves about Minnesota state taxes before they file it.

General information only; not tax advice.

Pending Minnesota Gambling Legislation

The Tribes and the Racetracks

A significant reason that has blocked Minnesota sports betting bills since 2019 is the Indian Gaming Association. Representing the 11 tribal nations in the state, the Association insists on exclusive control over mobile betting licenses.

Running Aces and Canterbury Park, the state’s two main horse racing tracks, demand revenue shares or compensation for being excluded. Charitable groups and a divided legislature are other reasons that put more friction on top of this disagreement.

What Happened in 2026

In March 2026, Senator Nick Frentz introduced Senate File 4139, with bipartisan co-sponsorship. It was developed to allow the tribes to operate mobile sportsbooks in partnership with national operators.

Initially, the bill cleared a committee review. However, it was eventually eliminated following a failed procedural vote in the Senate. Since then, the bill was never brought back.

The 2026 session adjourned in mid-May 2026. The question “Is sports gambling legal in Minnesota?” was still answered no. Because of this, Minnesota remains the sole Midwest state without an online betting framework.

What Comes Next

For a sports betting bill in Minnesota to be successful, it will require strict rule-making and licensing, but no planned schedule exists.

Realistically, there’s no forecast on the matter. Sports betting remains illegal in the state of Minnesota, and no timeline exists for when, or whether, that changes.

Frequently asked questions

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