Minnesota Online Gambling: Quick Facts
- Legal Minnesota online gambling options: None
- Legal gambling age: 18 to 21 at tribal casinos.
- Who regulates Minnesota online gambling? N/A
- Legal mobile gambling? No
- Do I need to be physically located in Minnesota to gamble online? N/A
- Do I need to be a resident of Minnesota to gamble online? N/A
- Sports avalable to bet on: Horse racing at racetracks only.
- What can't I bet on? Sports, casino, poker.
A Brief History of Minnesota Online Gambling
Minnesota online gambling is currently illegal. Delaware was the first state to legalize online casino gambling in 2012. However, the state did not launch its three platforms until 2014. Nevada quickly followed Delaware in implementing online casino gambling, but not many other states followed these pioneers.
Sports betting became legal in the United States in 2018 when the Supreme Court ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was unconstitutional. PASPA was what the professional leagues and the NCAA used to hold back sports betting in the country.
New Jersey battled the leagues, and the case concluded in the Supreme Court. Ultimately, the court sided with New Jersey, and that gave states the right to legalize sports betting throughout the nation.
Minnesota attempted to enact sports betting in 2019. The idea was first discussed during the 2018 legislative session. However, 2019 was the first time the state seriously considered online gambling. There were two bills introduced in the legislature in 2019, but the tribal nations opposed each piece of legislation.
One of the bills called for mobile betting, whilst the other limited sports betting to brick-and-mortar locations. The bills carried over to 2020 because of the rules in the Minnesota state legislature, but the tribal nations did not budge.
It is likely that the topic of sports betting will be discussed again in 2021. But it does not appear like the tribes will budge. The future is not very bright for Minnesota sports betting because the tribes have the final jurisdiction.
Minnesota Online Gambling: The Current Law
As we have said, online sports betting and casino gaming are not legal in Minnesota. This isn't likely to change in 2021 because the tribal nations which operate casinos are against these games.
Legal Online Sportsbooks
If Minnesota legalizes sports betting, there is a high likelihood that it will only be available in retail locations. Therefore, no legal online sportsbooks would be able to operate in the state.
Sports Betting in Minnesota
Minnesota could have a great sports betting market because of the college and professional teams that compete in the state. For example, it has a professional sports team in each of the four major leagues. Furthermore, the University of Minnesota has a division I athletic program that competes in the Big Ten.
Should Minnesota get a sports betting deal with the tribal nations, these would be the bets that would be allowed in the state.
The most common wagers from the types listed above are the moneyline, point spread, and total bets. Prop, future, and parlays are tougher to win but a lot of fun to play.
Legal Online Casinos
There are no legal online casinos and Minnesota, and it does not seem like these will be likely in the coming years. The tribal nations that operate landlocked casinos in the state are firmly against online gambling.
There are 21 landlocked casinos in Minnesota that are operated by 11 federally recognized tribes in the state.
Legal Online Poker
Similarly, online poker is also illegal in Minnesota. If people in the state want to play poker, they must go to card rooms at the landlocked casinos.
How to Set Up a Minnesota Online Gambling Account
If Minnesota legalizes online gambling, you should be able to sign up for an account on your mobile device. Download the legal sportsbook app or go to the website of the book. Then, to create an account, you will need to enter your name, address, date of birth, and social security number.
Your social security number is required for ID verification purposes. If you are worried about your account, make sure you set a strong password. An excellent password for an online gambling account includes numbers, letters, and symbols.
Minnesota Banking Methods
It’s unlikely that Minnesota will legalize online gambling. However, the banking methods will include credit/debit card, PayPal, Neteller, PayNearMe, e-Check through ACH Payments, or a banking wire if the state can get a deal done.
Do not be fearful about financial theft because online gambling sites go through many security measures to keep their members’ information safe.
The Future of Online Gambling in Minnesota
The future of online gambling in Minnesota is very cloudy. The tribal nations do not want sports betting anywhere in MN. Even if they have exclusive rights over the form of gambling. If a deal does not occur in the next couple of years, do not expect online gambling for a very long time.
The COVID-19 pandemic could change the minds of leaders in the tribal nations. But it’s not likely. Minnesota is missing out on a lot of extra revenue that would be added with online sports betting.
