By The federal ban on sports betting was struck down in May 2018, and the question on everyone’s mind is when each state will legalize sports betting. Lawmakers are pushing for it, and you could see legal sports betting in Minnesota in the near future if the state can get the Native American tribal casinos onboard.
*Annoyingly, sports bettors in Minnesota won’t be able to access US-based providers such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, BetRivers, Fox Bet, and Unibet. The first-class sports betting providers we’ve listed above will be available to players.
Table of Contents
Can I bet on sports in Minnesota? Minnesota Casinos Betting on Minnesota Sports Teams Minnesota Sports Betting Legalization Timeline Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in MinnesotaMinnesota Sports Betting Legislation
Currently, the committee is sitting on a bill called SF 1984, a revision of a bill that Senator Roger Chamberlain introduced last year. It’s no secret that the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association has huge concerns about sports betting and how that will affect the gaming industry in the state.
Tribal Casino Concerns
Their main concern is that mobile gaming might impact their physical venues and affect attendance and in-person wagering as a whole. SF 1984 has a new amendment that requires sports bettors to register for the mobile application at a physical venue - which would bring gamblers into the tribal casinos.
Tribal Approval Needed
The state needs the MIGA to agree, and so far, the pushback from the Native American tribes is showing us that it may be a little bit of a wait before we see any sports betting bills being passed in the state of Minnesota. Senator Chamberlain has made amendments that would help nudge the tribal casinos toward sports betting, to no avail.
Potential Revenue
Additionally, the new revenue for the state could be exponential and greatly help the state’s financial status. Many states that have legalized sports betting are already seeing millions of dollars of revenue coming through.
Current Gambling Landscape
Moreover, over 5.5 million people live in the state of Minnesota, and legal gambling currently includes tribal casino gambling, Daily Fantasy sports, and pari-mutuel betting. There are 18 tribal casinos in the state, and they are all located on Native American reserves or under their jurisdiction.
Can I bet on sports in Minnesota?
Minnesota government officials are very pro-sports betting. They want to legalize it, there is a push to do so, but it’s not that simple. There are state-licensing agreements and with the tribal casinos, they have to work out a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Until then, sports bettors can bet at online sportsbooks, which is fast, safe, and surprisingly easy. You can sign up at an online sportsbook like Bovada or BetOnline and make a deposit, and be betting on sports in minutes.
Minnesota Casinos
Casinos in the state of Minnesota are exclusively owned by Native American tribes. If sports betting is ever legalized in the state, it will be with the tribe’s permission, and they will have exclusive rights to operate sportsbooks in their physical venues. The following casinos could be home to sportsbooks in the future if the bill passes and sports betting is legalized in Minnesota:
- Black Bear Casino Resort in Carlton County
- Fond-du-luth Casino in St. Louis County
- Fortune Bay Casino in St. Louis County
- Grand Casino Hinckley in Pine County
- Grand Casino Mille Lacs in Mille Lacs County
- Grand Portage Lodge and Casino in Cook County
- Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel in Renville County
- Little Six Casino in Scott County
- Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Scott County
- Northern Lights Casino in Cass County
- Cedar Lakes Casino in Cass County
- Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort in Yellow Medicine County
- Seven Clans Casino Red Lake in Beltrami County
- Seven Clans Casino Warroad in Roseau County
- Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen County
- Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Goodhue County
- White Oak Casino in Itasca County
The following racetracks could also be home to sports betting in Minnesota:
- Canterbury Park in Scott County
- Running Aces Harness Park in Anoka County.
Click here for full details on off-track betting in Minnesota.
Betting on Minnesota Sports Teams
Minnesota has one of every major professional sports team.
The NFL’s Minnesota Vikings were established in 1961 and had one of the highest winning percentages in the league. They’ve made it to the playoffs 27 times, and have played in four Super Bowls – in which they’ve lost. They’re still on the hunt for a championship, but they haven’t attended the Super Bowl in over 40 years.
Basketball Teams
The Minnesota Timberwolves are the resident NBA team in the state. They qualified for the playoffs every season from 1997 to 2004, and won their first division championship in 2004 where they went to the Western Conference finals. They haven’t accomplished much since then, with powerhouse teams dominating the league in the past several years.
Baseball Teams
Baseball fans in the state of Minnesota follow the Twins, named after the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Minnesota Twins have won six American League pennants, and two World Series in 1987 and 1991.
Ice Hockey Teams
The Minnesota Wild is the state’s only NHL team and a young one to boot. Founded in 1997 and having their first season in 2000, they have only won one division title, in only one playoff appearance.
A Brief Timeline of the Legality of Minnesota Sports Betting
- February 12, 2024 – Bipartisan support increases the likelihood of a sports betting bill passing in Minnesota, as the state, which has been on the sidelines since the Supreme Court's 2018 decision, contemplates entering the sports betting arena.
- January 20, 2024 – Senator Jeremy Miller unveils 'Minnesota Sports Betting Act 2.0' for the upcoming legislative session.
- March 29, 2023 – DraftKings introduces DK Horse, an app allowing Minnesota residents to bet on horse racing, launching before the Kentucky Derby.
- March 2, 2023 – In a legislative hearing, Rep. Zack Stephenson's sports betting bill HF 2000 advances, projecting potential annual tax revenues of about $12 million.
- February 25, 2023 – Minnesota legislators Stephenson and Klein propose HF 2000 and SF 1949, aiming to authorize both retail and online sports betting with tribal exclusivity.
Minnesota Sports Betting Legalization Timeline
2018-2019: Opportunities are Not Taken Up
Minnesota has been given an opportunity to collect additional revenue in the form of sports betting. It seems like opposition from Native Americans and their Tribal casinos has been enough to stave off legalization of sports betting for now.
In 2019 two bills were intodruced, one in each chamber, that would have legalized sports betting in the state. They would have tied this oportunity to various brick and mortar sites in the state, either Tribal casinos exclusively, or also to racetracks.
Neither bill was able to get much progress in the Minnesota legislature.
2020-2021: Still no Significant Movement Towards Legalization
Minnesotans will have to wait. The foreseeable future holds no concrete clues towards sports legalization. Despite attempts to bring Tribes on board, all 11 still seem concretely opposed to sports legalization.
Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting in Minnesota
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