Minnesota
Gambling Laws 2026

Sports betting is pending in Minnesota: legislation has been proposed but not enacted as of May 2026, while 36 states already allow it. Casino gambling is limited to tribal casinos, and online casino gambling is illegal. Minnesota has a state lottery, and card room gambling and horse racing are legal.

Minnesota has 18 tribal casinos operating under compacts with the state. These range from small facilities to Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, one of the largest casinos in the Midwest, located about 25 miles from Minneapolis. Card clubs are legal in Minnesota under a separate framework — Canterbury Park in Shakopee operates both a horse racing track and a card club with poker and other player-banked games. The lottery has operated since 1989.

Sports betting legislation has been introduced in Minnesota for several years without passing. The primary obstacle has been disagreement between tribal casino operators, who want exclusivity or control over mobile platforms, and commercial interests who want broader licensing. Horse racing at Canterbury Park is the state's primary live racing venue.

For residents, the current state is mixed. You have real casino access in the metro area and decent distribution across the state from tribal facilities. But there is no legal way to bet on sports through an app, and online casino gambling is not legal. If sports betting legislation finally passes, Minnesota would almost certainly become a major market given the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, and Wild fan bases. For now, you need to cross into Iowa or South Dakota to wager on sports legally.

18 tribal casinos. Sports betting legislation in progress. Card clubs (Canterbury Park) legal.

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Also on Minnesota: the full Minnesota profile covers taxes, cost of living, crime and schools, and the county map lets you compare every county in the state. For related rules, read the Minnesota sex laws guide and the Minnesota country music guide.