Minnesota Sports Betting

Minnesota is a state filled with proud sports fans. If they’re not playing, they’re watching, and with a roster of professional teams sporting the Minnesota name, you can’t blame them.

The market is ripe for Minnesota sports betting to be an option, but the Minnesota sports betting bill isn’t quite there yet. Read on to see what is stalling the expansion of Minnesota sports betting and where you can bet otherwise.

Legal Sports Betting In Minnesota

Unfortunately, despite an ongoing battle to make it happen, Minnesota has not passed the sports betting legislation for offline or online sports betting. There are currently efforts to get legislation in place, and Minnesota lawmakers are eager for a new push to come to fruition in 2022. Still, it doesn’t appear like it will happen now due to a critical disagreement putting the idea on hold.

There seems to be a cultural blockage due to the main gaming stakeholders being 11 Indian tribes operating 19 casinos in the state. Despite the aid of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association changing its mind and starting to work with legislators to legalize Minnesota sports betting, there was another blockage. The proposed House bill gave tribes sports betting exclusivity until a Minnesota Senate amendment added two horse racing tracks to this move, breaking the deal.

At this point, the bill isn’t passed with the closure of the Minnesota legislature, so sports gambling fans will have to wait until 2023 to try again and at least next year to get the legislation through.

How To Pick A Minnesota Sports Betting Site

Until the legislation goes through, Minnesota sports betting fans will have to go elsewhere to find online sports betting app they can use. There are likely to be a lot of sportsbooks open to Minnesota sports betting fans once the market opens up, including the likes of DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars. Still, Minnesota locals will have to travel to use them legally. The neighboring states of Iowa and South Dakota have legalized offline sports betting and online sportsbook websites if you want to take your app and legally bet on sports across state lines.

The critical aspect of choosing a sports betting site is ensuring it is licensed. If you are headed to Iowa or South Dakota, you’re looking for approval from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission and the South Dakota Department of Revenue. This will ensure that your sports betting app is regulated and licensed and that you are protected should something go wrong.

History / Timeline Of Sports Betting in Minnesota

Minnesota officials have been working on getting Minnesota sports betting legalized since 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down the federal law keeping sports wagering illegal nationwide. Suddenly the doors opened for states across the country to legalize sports betting.

Suppose Minnesota had gotten its legislation through the Senate this year. In that case, Minnesota sports betting fans would have joined 21 states that have already made the move official and a few others that are changing state laws to allow sports betting.

Minnesota Sports Teams

Minnesota is a state that loves its sports. With so much nature around, you can imagine many active locals who want their Minnesota sports betting if they don’t enjoy Minnesota sports playing. This means that all major leagues are covered with Minnesota state options. There are the Minnesota Vikings for NFL, Minnesota Timberwolves for the NBA, Minnesota Twins for MLB, and of course, a northern state needs a hockey team, the Minnesota Wild for NHL.

Of course, this isn’t the only option for Minnesota sports betting fans. The famously cold northern state has a lot of locals that enjoy their curling, skying, rollerblading, and all the athletes that make it big in their specific fields. Of course, all the college teams come from establishments like the University of Minnesota, Bethany Lutheran College, and Minnesota State College.

This makes for many feverish sports fans that engage in playing, watching, and betting on their favorite sports if they had the option. But Minnesota is also a state surrounded by neighbors that have professional teams. With so much talent around, you can expect some crossover in fan support. For example, the Green Bay Packers for the NFL and Milwaukee Bucks for the NBA in Wisconsin are the most prominent names, but there is plenty more to love about the neighboring states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa.

And then there is an entire country of sports teams just across the Minnesota border. So Minnesota sports betting fans have their pick of the litter between leagues, professional teams, college teams, and obscure sports to enjoy.

Retail Sports Betting in Minnesota

Funnily enough, all the 23 casinos, bar one, in Minnesota are tribal casinos, so that we will cover them further down. The spare one is a racino, but considering Minnesota sports betting is still illegal in the state, it’s probably best that Minnesota sports betting fans wander for their sports betting indulgences anyway.

If you want to get away from all your Minnesota sports betting needs, you can head to South Dakota for a visit to one of the 23 retail casinos in the state. One of them is even a floating casino, with 61 slots and live events daily. The Buffalo Bodega Gaming Complex doesn’t offer sports betting, however. On the other hand, the Dakota Sioux Casino and Hotel offers sports betting. The Dakota Nation sportsbook is attached to its venue with over 456 slot machines, 13 table games, including poker, four dining experiences, and nearby fishing and watersports.

And then there’s Iowa, which has 15 retail casinos, including a stationary boat casino named the Ameristar Council Bluffs. This massive casino homes 1,525 slot machines and 23 tables on top of its Barstool sportsbook. Enjoy eating from five different restaurants, drinking from the Amerisports Bar, and lounging by the pool and spa.

The three biggest Iowan retail casinos are Prairie Meadows in Des Moines, Horseshoe Council Bluffs in Council Bluffs, and the Meskwaki Casino Hotel in Tama. However, the Meskwaki Casino Hotel doesn’t appear to offer sports betting.

Prairie Meadows uses the Caesars sportsbook in a well-kitted out casino that we go into more detail about later on. Why? Because it also is a racino and caters to horse racing sports betting.

The Horseshoe Council Bluffs also uses the Caesars sportsbook for all your Minnesota sports betting desires and features 1,378 slot machines, 54 table games, 18 poker tables, and nearby golf. An excellent choice for an avid sports fan.

Unfortunately, North Dakota and Wisconsin have not yet legalized sports betting, so you will have to go elsewhere for your sports betting needs. However, a retail casino in North Dakota is named the Southgate Casino Bar and Grill if you’re looking for a night of gambling even without the sports betting element.

And, of course, there is the fact that Minnesota is one of the US’s northernmost states, meaning that Canada, where sports and retail betting is perfectly legal, is a quick drive away. In addition, the Manitoba city of Winnipeg is right on the Minnesota doorstep, opening up the opportunity to visit dozens of casinos.

Tribal Casinos

Minnesota is home to a lot of native tribes, and as a result, there are 20 tribal casinos to choose from across the state. Unfortunately, none of them will do Minnesota sports betting as the act is still illegal, but you have plenty of choices to bet on other games at the many casinos on offer by various tribes.

The three best tribal casinos in Minnesota are made up of Fortune Ba, run by the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Jackpot Junction, operated by the Lower Sioux Indian Community, and Mystic Lake, run by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

Fortune Bay Casino offers 850 slots, 12 table games, and 4 poker tables at a resort with RV parking, a marina, and a swimming pool. Enjoy live concerts and comedy shows at night after a meal at one of the four restaurant options and a drink at the North Star Bar.

The Jackpot Junction casino has over 1,250 slot machines and 24 table games in a venue that hosts live entertainment almost every night on top of its four dining options, Circle Bar, gift shop, swimming pool, and fitness center.

And Mystic Lake has a whopping 4,000 slot machines and 100 table games, nine dining options, and five night life options at a resort that houses a spa and a golf course.

As mentioned, North Dakota and Wisconsin also haven’t yet legalized sports betting, so there is less chance of there being somewhere to fit your Minnesota sports betting wants. However, there are three tribal casinos in Wisconsin and 10 in South Dakota if you simply fancy a night away to gamble.

Iowa’s biggest tribal casino is the Winnavegas Casino and Resort, which is run by the Winne tribe and houses 850 slot machines and 10 table games, plus five poker tables. Eat at the Kasu CafĂ© or the Flowers Island Restaurant and spend the day in the gaming lounge or playing the golf simulator. Or choose from the other three tribal options in Iowa: the Prairie Flower Casino, the Meskwaki Casino Hotel, and the Blackbird Bend Casino.

In North Dakota, you have five tribal casinos to choose from. Still, our favorite is the Dakota Magic Casino, which the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate runs and features over 1,000 slot machines, 18 table games, seven poker tables, and an arcade. Eat from three different dining options, drink from the Exit 1 Lounge, and spend your nights enjoying live concerts and entertainment.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily fantasy sports betting sits in a grey area legally, where it was called a game of skill rather than chance but put under the umbrella of sports betting anyway. As such, current fantasy sports betting is unregulated but legal.

The abundance of professional teams in Minnesota makes for a feverish Minnesota sports betting fan collective migrating to this legal form of sports betting. The Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Vikings, and Minnesota Twins are all competing in the most significant leads with the backing of their fans.

Offshore Sports Betting

Offshore sportsbook and mobile betting websites are not recommended, but it might be your only option until Minnesota sports betting is legalized. If you use an offshore sports betting site, ensure that it is regulated by an authority that the US recognizes.

So, that means looking for the Costa Rice Gambling Authority or the Curacao eGaming Authority, which should keep you protected. A lack of license from offshore sites will offer you no protection should you find that your money is gone.

Minnesota Horse Racing & Off-Track Betting

The one exception across the country on the ban on sports betting has always been horseracing, breeding Minnesota sports betting fans in place of any other form of sports betting. Minnesota’s only racino, Canterbury Park, is the main accommodator of such sports betting. With 64 table games and 14 poker tables, there are 5 dining options, a few with race-side seating to see the horses. In addition, there are new races daily to enjoy as well as concerts, trade shows and conventions at the venue.

However, if you’re looking for some time away, there are also racinos available in Iowa: The Q Casino and Hotel and Prairie Meadows.

The Prairie Meadows casino features 1,700 slot machines, 44 table games, and 11 poker tables. But best of all, it has race and sports betting, using the Caesars sportsbook. However, it also houses a 1-mile-long track with a 6,200 seating capacity. With three restaurants, two bars, live music, and a pool, why wouldn’t you visit?

The Q Casino has a quarter mile track where greyhounds race in a venue with 832 slot machines, 22 table games, and 4 poker tables. It also has the Q Sports Bar, where you can indulge in Minnesota sports betting with the Q Sportsbook, on top of the Farmhouse Kitchen and Houllhan’s to eat in, plus the Q Show Room for events.

Final Thoughts / Summary

There are plenty of options for Minnesota sports betting fans to get involved with sports betting if they are willing to travel; however, for now, locals will have to enjoy their teams winning or playing themselves until legislation to legalize sports betting in the state is passed.

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About Joe Kizlauskas

Joe is a seasoned iGaming copywriter and speaker who has been in the business since 2015. He's written more words on all elements of Casinos, Slots, Bingo & Sports Betting than he likes to remember, and he's contributed material to a number of well-known brands. Joe may be seen playing 5 a side, at the gym or playing games on his Playstation when he is not writing.