Gambling Laws In MN & Other Gaming Statutes
There are few hobbies in Minnesota, and the United States that are under as much scrutiny as gambling. When enjoyed responsibly and casually, there are few hobbies enjoyed by Minnesota residents that can offer equal parts excitement and opportunity for profit, however, there are also few hobbies subject to as vague and confusing a landscape as gambling. Here you will learn about Minnesota gambling laws and how they affect the state's residents
Federal law which governs every US citizen clearly states that while it is indeed a serious crime to facilitate and unsanctioned gambling, the causal bettor is exempt from these laws. The focus of federal law is on large syndicates, not individuals. As such, the federal government has no desire to hunt down otherwise honest citizens who merely wish to place a bet.
While the matter there appears to be fairly simple, many states add their own legislation to the subject and further complicate the matter. The goal of this page is to aid Minnesota residents with an interest in gambling in not only learning the intricacies of their state law, but helping them to find means to gamble as safely as possible. We want to be a guide to any prospective gamblers to help them stay educated about the law and their rights as residents of the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Gambling Legality: Is It Legal To Gamble In Minnesota?
When assessing the legal situation that casual gamblers face in Minnesota, there is a healthy chunk of good news. Unfortunately, it is preempted by a bit of bad news.
The act of making a “bet” which is defined in chapter 609.75 subdivision 2 as “a bargain whereby the parties mutually agree to a gain or loss by one to the other of specified money, property or benefit dependent upon chance although the chance is accompanied by some element of skill” is illegal according to Minnesota law. This definition is hard to work around, and effectively kills any chance for legalized gambling in any sense. By including the portion in the letter of the law concerning the element of skill, Minnesota effectively rules out any loophole a game of poker played for money could slide through.
According to chapter 609.755 of state legislation, this crime is a misdemeanor which can result in six months in jail and a fine of up to $3000. After that, one may be wondering what the good news could possibly be. The good news is that even though placing a “bet” in Minnesota is, according to the letter of the law, a crime it is not one that is prosecuted in the state. The spirit and intent of laws against gambling have always been targeted towards organized crime and racketeering, never individual bettors or gamblers.
The crime of placing a bet in Minnesota has never been charged on an otherwise honest resident of the state, rather it has only been brought up in cases against more serious criminals or entire crime organizations in an attempt to convict them of more crimes. One who lives in Minnesota and merely wishes to participate in a gambling event has no reason to fear prosecution.
However, one cannot take this information and apply it to all gambling acts. If one is found guilty of “operating a gambling place” in Minnesota, the guilty party not only faces a highly likely chance of prosecution as defined in chapter 609.76 of Minnesota code, they will be found guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor which can lead to up to a year in jail and a $3000 fine. Minnesota residents should be careful to avoid this crime.
Difference Between Gambling & Operating a Gambling Place
Luckily, unlike some other states, the difference between these two acts is fairly clearly defined even in the headings. It doesn’t take an incredibly advanced law degree to deduce that a “gambling place” is a house or property in which gambling takes place. Therefore, one who “operates” it would be guilty of a serious criminal offense.
For example, if one wants to play roulette, they would walk into an illicit gambling operation. In order to place their bet, they would have to put money in the hands of a dealer or wheel operator. This party is “operating a gambling place,” even if they are merely an employee for a larger syndicate. In order to round out the definition of the crime, the gambling activity must also be for profit.
This does not mean simply betting and wagering and coming out ahead, operating a gambling place for profit means setting oneself (or one’s employer) up to make a profit from gambling whether they place bets or not. The most popular means of doing this are by playing a game as the “house,” who by definition always has the best odds of winning, or by charging admission merely for the privilege to play the game.
The most popular means of operating a gambling device is to own or operate a sportsbook for the purposes of betting. In fact, illicit land based sports betting became such a problem in Minnesota that it brought about its own policy. In accordance with chapter 609.76 subdivision 2, the specific act of bookmaking within the state is an automatic felony charge, even more serious than the standard gambling operation charge.
However, the lesson to take from this is that no matter a Minnesota resident’s preferred method of gambling, as long as they remain a mere participant rather than a facilitator, they will not face any legal prosecution for violating Minnesota gambling laws.
Minnesota Gambling Laws + Restrictions
Minnesota Sports Betting Laws
In accordance with federal law, no brick and mortar facilities in Minnesota may legally offer sports betting, so when it comes to betting on land, there are no real safe options for those in the land of 10,000 lakes.
The good news is that the law does not really see fit to prosecute citizens who merely show an interest in betting. Taking this into consideration, hundreds of thousands of Minnesota residents have already turned to legal online sportsbooks to bet on the Twins to make the World Series, or for the Vikings to finally bring the Super Bowl back to the state.
Minnesota Casino Gaming Laws
Although Minnesota has not sanctioned any facilities that allow slot machines or traditional table games, there is actually an active gambling presence on land within the Minnesota state borders. Thanks to federally exempt tribal casinos, Minnesota residents have a great variety of legal brick and mortar casinos to choose from. Even though they are spread quite thin for a state the size of Minnesota, an afternoon’s drive will probably be preferable to a long flight for most Minnesota residents who want to spend an afternoon in a casino.
In addition to tribal casinos, many Minnesota residents are taking advantage of the fact that Minnesota gambling laws state the act of gambling will not be prosecuted for signing up with legal online casinos. Using these services, many players are able to enjoy casino gaming from the comfort of their own home any time they like.
Minnesota Poker Laws
Despite restrictive legislation to the contrary, the State of Minnesota has recently sanctioned two facilities devoted to stand-alone card rooms where residents may play Texas Hold‘em. These facilities are attached to pari-mutuel betting tracks where the state has sanctioned forms of “skill based” gambling. In addition to these facilities, poker fans may make use of any of the tribal casinos in the state.
However, most poker in Minnesota tales place right in the comfort of players’ own homes. Whether through private social games (where no one makes a profit outside of betting or wagering) or the use of legal online poker rooms, the law provides no interference with Minnesota residents enjoying poker on a daily basis.
Age To Legally Gamble In Minnesota: How Old To Bet?
Although the legal landscape when it comes to gambling in the state of Minnesota is complicated at best, it has proven to be easy to traverse for honest Minnesota residents. The exception to the rule is, of course, those who would attempt to gamble underage. The legal gambling age in Minnesota is 18, and we strongly recommend all residents wait until they are over 18 before attempting to gamble.
For violating this rule, the guilty parties will not only forfeit all funds associated with gambling, but leave themselves open to legal prosecution including hefty fines and state mandated community service. Despite what Minnesota teenagers may have heard about college admission boards liking candidates with lots of community service, the words “court ordered” appearing in front of it will not do high school students any favors.
|
General |
|---|
| 18 |
|
Lottery |
|---|
| 18 |
|
Casinos |
|---|
| 18 or 21 |
|
Poker |
|---|
| 18 or 21 |
|
Pari-Mutuel |
|---|
| 18 |
|
Bingo |
|---|
| 18 |
Gambling Locations In Minnesota
On-Land:
Despite scant few instances of sanctioned gaming within the state of Minnesota (there are two sanctioned race tracks with card rooms attached) there are several federally exempt tribal casinos that should be able to fulfill all the needs of prospective Minnesota gamblers.
In these facilities, players may partake in poker in a social and professional environment, lay money down on any number of table games or even play the slots. The only service unavailable to Minnesota residents who prefer land based gambling would be sports betting, which is highly illegal to facilitate anywhere in the state.
Online/Web-Based:
For some who enjoy gambling, regular trips out to remote locations are not convenient. This is why thousands of avid gamblers in and surrounding the twin cities have already signed up for legal online gambling networks serving US clientele.
Minnesota gambling laws established that no one in Minnesota will face any legal trouble for merely gambling, but how, in a state that polices the facilitation of gambling so heavily can these websites exist? The answer is simple. These gambling websites are all located overseas, putting them well outside of not only Minnesota but US jurisdiction. Using these websites, Minnesota residents may freely gamble with websites that are established as legal and legitimate businesses.
While some prospective players may be nervous at the prospect of gambling with an overseas entity, there is no cause for concern. These businesses have been in operation for over a decade and serving clients in the United States for just as long. In that time, they have not only learned exactly what Americans who like to gamble want and expect from their website, but they have racked up an impressive list of endorsements both from customers and reputable media giants like CBS, ESPN and the USA Today. These endorsements are not earned easily or overnight, but rather by many years of dedicated, consistent, and outstanding service.
Best Gambling Sites That Are Legal For Minnesota Players
Bovada Sportsbook
Bet On Vikings, Gophers, Twins & T'Wolves Games
If you’re looking to pick up a sports betting hobby, you want to take care to ensure that you are betting with a legal website that offers risk-free sports betting with one of the most legitimate business outfits around. For the discerning bettor, the Bovada online sportsbook is the clear choice. This top sportsbook for USA players has been in operation and serving American clientele for over 20 years, and in that time they have mastered the art of providing a high quality product along with the kind of customer service only a long standing legitimate business can offer.
You don’t have to take our word for it, though. When you first sign up with Bovada and make your initial deposit, you will find that you are eligible to receive 50% of your initial deposit back in bonus money al they up to $250. This is an excellent way to explore every nook and cranny of the sportsbook without having to put any of your initial money at risk, and the perfect welcome bonus to one of the most tightly run sports betting ships all over the world.
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We here at MinnesotaGamblingLaws.com are gamblers who are passionate about law, not the other way around. Taking this into consideration, none of the Minnesota gambling laws information on this page can be considered a legal consultation. Any further questions should be taken to a lawyer or directly to the Minnesota legal code found at www.leg.state.mn.us.