MN Stat § 609.75-763 prohibits all gambling not authorized by the state, including the conduct of online gambling. State law also treats participation in unauthorized gambling as a misdemeanor offense. Minnesota Gambling Control Board Rules The rules for lawful gambling electronic games, sports tipboard games, and other lawful gambling provisions are effective on Monday, July 15, 2019. For those of you affected by language requiring compliance within 180 days from the effective date of the rules, that date is January 11, 2020. Minnesota Legislature Advanced Search Search Legislature Search. Minnesota House of Representatives. House Members and Staff House Members.
Is Betting & Online Poker Legal In The State Of Minnesota?
Minnesota has a history of gambling going all the way back to their indigenous tribes, though things have only really got moving in the last 60 years. What stands out here is the huge scope and size of the charity gambling area – and the progressive expansion of tribal gaming activities. Horse-racing has also been a popular entertainment industry in this State. This article covers the Minnesota Gambling laws in detail.
First up below you can read a quick-fire historical account of the development of gambling in this State, including the constant tussles with the tribes. After that I have gone through the different games one-by-one, outlining the status of each. More detail can be found below that, with some key excerpts from the statutes and a timeline of legal events. Finally I have brought it all together in a quick summary, and added my own thoughts on what might be next for Minnesota.
Minnesota Gambling Laws – A Brief History
Charity bingo and raffle type games were legalized back in 1945 here, and now make up a billion-dollar industry in their own right. Each establishment needs to be licensed, and the stakes and prizes are kept low. The scope of these games has grown over the years to include pull-tab games and more recently electronic versions of lottery or pull-tabs. In the most recent development, remote (tablet device) pull tabs will be allowed at football stadiums under the charity gambling laws.
There are several tribes sharing the land in Minnesota and they have not been shy about taking their right to host gambling games to court. This started in the early 1980's when high-stakes bingo parlors were introduced on native land. These have since expanded to include video gaming, blackjack and non-banked card games like poker too. Outside of the tribes there are no land-based casinos, with regulation and licensing for these regularly shot down in the Senate. Only video games and non-banked table games (poker rooms) at racetracks are available. There are no active bills or plans to change this as of 2014.
Horse racing is legal here, though the pari-mutuel betting was introduced later than in many States – coming into law in the 1980's compared to the 1920's or 1930's. There is also a popular lottery.
Social games are explicitly excluded from the gambling laws, which are considered very broad in their definitions. If the prizes are under $200, and nobody profits from running the game, then you are free to enjoy social games in private. Texas Holdem is specifically mentioned as a permitted game.
What the MN Statutes are very clear about is this: If it is not specifically mentioned as being legal under our laws, then it is not.
Minnesota Gambling Laws – An Overview Of What Games Are Legal
Casino Games: Yes, Minnesota has many tribal casinos who offer video lottery type games, slots and Blackjack, you can also find games at the racetracks.
Online Casinos: No, the closest would be remote electronic pull-tab games within designated locations (racetracks). This is not exactly online gambling as we know it, though does set a president in some ways.
Live Poker: Yes, but limited in scope. There are poker rooms at casinos, and charity poker tournaments are popular. Texas Holdem is singled out in a skill game exemption under Minnesota law. As long as nobody is making a profit hosting the game and the prizes are no more than $200, you should be just fine.
Online Poker: No, there are no discussions on this area at the moment, though the generally progressive attitude towards gambling lead some people to believe that MN makes a good candidate for a future wave of regulated poker games once things are proven to be working (and generating revenue) elsewhere.
Sports Betting: Yes, pari-mutuel betting on horse racing is big business here including simulcast betting on races in other States.
Lottery Betting: Yes, a popular lottery has been running since 1972, this includes multi-State games.
Bingo Games: Yes, there is a huge charitable gambling tradition in this State, this includes bingo, keno, raffles, poker and casino nights.
Minnesota Gambling Laws – Timeline And Key Statutes
The laws take the ‘if we do not make it explicitly legal, then it is illegal' route to their gambling laws – with the making of a bet more important than whether a game is of chance, skill or some combination of those two. Private social bets are explicitly excluded, as are charity gambling, licensed lotteries and pari-mutuel sports betting at licensed racetracks.
Here is the definition of a bet, unfortunately this does make the ‘game of skill' defense difficult:
[su_quote]Subd. 2. Bet. A bet is 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.
Subd. 10. Game. A game means any game played with cards, dice, equipment, or any mechanical or electronic device or machine for money or other value, whether or not approved by law, and includes, but is not limited to: card and dice games of chance, slot machines, banking or percentage games, video games of chance, sports pools, pari-mutuel betting, and race book.
Game' does not include any private social bet. [/su_quote]
Below is the timeline of legal events which have shaped the Minnesota gambling landscape:
The timeline of gambling activity in this State goes back to the native settlers. When the first statutes were signed, there were a lot of private lotteries around – many of which were corrupt. This lead to specific anti-lottery wording, and bans of gambling in general in many States, and Minnesota was no exception here.
The more recent part of the timeline starts with horse-racing and charity gambling. Included in this timeline are numerous attempts to set up regulated land-based casinos – none of these have passed as of 2014.
1945: Charity bingo laws introduced.
1947: Mechanical slot machines had become hugely popular during the 1940's were outlawed by Governor Luther Youngdahl.
1972: State lottery begins.
1981: First high-stakes Bingo parlors appear on Indian lands. This date also marks the beginning point of decades of legal challenges and counter-challenges between Minnesota and its Native tribes.
1983: Pari-mutuel betting at racetracks approved after attempts lasting more than 5 years. The first racetrack to take advantage of this, Canterbury Downs, opens two years later in 1985.
1986: Video gaming machines appear in Tribal Casinos.
1989: After years of legal wrangling, the State signs compacts (agreements) with 7 tribes allowing video gambling. This year also saw the beginning of Simulcast live betting on games from out of State.
1991: Compacts with tribes extended to include Blackjack
1999: ‘Unbanked' card games allowed at Canterbury downs (this is mostly poker), card room opens 1 year later.
2012: Electronic gambling devices allowed at football Stadiums. This is in line with the charitable gambling laws and involves electronic pull-tab games (similar to slots). The cash raised will be used to fund Stadium development.
Minnesota Gambling Laws – Summary And Look To The Future
It is a case of the Tribes saving the day when it comes to gambling here. Without them you would only have racetracks and charity or social games. The tribal casinos add a new layer of choice and offer a lot of different games nowadays.
Looking to the future, there are mixed messages from recent legislative sessions. On one hand the remote pull-tab video games that will be introduced into football stadiums are an encouraging sign. On the other hand this State has failed to agree on a single land-based casino for many years, with the tribes holding a near-monopoly as a result. It is unclear whether this is the profile of a State who would willingly regulate online poker games – though once other States prove the model to be tax generating, the possibility is not closed.
Useful Resources:
Gambling Timeline
Gambling Statutes
- http://mn.gov/gcb/StatuteAndRules.htm
US Gambling Law Summary
Another Interesting History
Last Updated November 17, 2018
Minnesota Gambling Laws – A Brief History
Charity bingo and raffle type games were legalized back in 1945 here, and now make up a billion-dollar industry in their own right. Each establishment needs to be licensed, and the stakes and prizes are kept low. The scope of these games has grown over the years to include pull-tab games and more recently electronic versions of lottery or pull-tabs. In the most recent development, remote (tablet device) pull tabs will be allowed at football stadiums under the charity gambling laws.
There are several tribes sharing the land in Minnesota and they have not been shy about taking their right to host gambling games to court. This started in the early 1980's when high-stakes bingo parlors were introduced on native land. These have since expanded to include video gaming, blackjack and non-banked card games like poker too. Outside of the tribes there are no land-based casinos, with regulation and licensing for these regularly shot down in the Senate. Only video games and non-banked table games (poker rooms) at racetracks are available. There are no active bills or plans to change this as of 2014.
Horse racing is legal here, though the pari-mutuel betting was introduced later than in many States – coming into law in the 1980's compared to the 1920's or 1930's. There is also a popular lottery.
Social games are explicitly excluded from the gambling laws, which are considered very broad in their definitions. If the prizes are under $200, and nobody profits from running the game, then you are free to enjoy social games in private. Texas Holdem is specifically mentioned as a permitted game.
What the MN Statutes are very clear about is this: If it is not specifically mentioned as being legal under our laws, then it is not.
Minnesota Gambling Laws – An Overview Of What Games Are Legal
Casino Games: Yes, Minnesota has many tribal casinos who offer video lottery type games, slots and Blackjack, you can also find games at the racetracks.
Online Casinos: No, the closest would be remote electronic pull-tab games within designated locations (racetracks). This is not exactly online gambling as we know it, though does set a president in some ways.
Live Poker: Yes, but limited in scope. There are poker rooms at casinos, and charity poker tournaments are popular. Texas Holdem is singled out in a skill game exemption under Minnesota law. As long as nobody is making a profit hosting the game and the prizes are no more than $200, you should be just fine.
Online Poker: No, there are no discussions on this area at the moment, though the generally progressive attitude towards gambling lead some people to believe that MN makes a good candidate for a future wave of regulated poker games once things are proven to be working (and generating revenue) elsewhere.
Sports Betting: Yes, pari-mutuel betting on horse racing is big business here including simulcast betting on races in other States.
Lottery Betting: Yes, a popular lottery has been running since 1972, this includes multi-State games.
Bingo Games: Yes, there is a huge charitable gambling tradition in this State, this includes bingo, keno, raffles, poker and casino nights.
Minnesota Gambling Laws – Timeline And Key Statutes
The laws take the ‘if we do not make it explicitly legal, then it is illegal' route to their gambling laws – with the making of a bet more important than whether a game is of chance, skill or some combination of those two. Private social bets are explicitly excluded, as are charity gambling, licensed lotteries and pari-mutuel sports betting at licensed racetracks.
Here is the definition of a bet, unfortunately this does make the ‘game of skill' defense difficult:
[su_quote]Subd. 2. Bet. A bet is 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.
Subd. 10. Game. A game means any game played with cards, dice, equipment, or any mechanical or electronic device or machine for money or other value, whether or not approved by law, and includes, but is not limited to: card and dice games of chance, slot machines, banking or percentage games, video games of chance, sports pools, pari-mutuel betting, and race book.
Game' does not include any private social bet. [/su_quote]
Below is the timeline of legal events which have shaped the Minnesota gambling landscape:
The timeline of gambling activity in this State goes back to the native settlers. When the first statutes were signed, there were a lot of private lotteries around – many of which were corrupt. This lead to specific anti-lottery wording, and bans of gambling in general in many States, and Minnesota was no exception here.
The more recent part of the timeline starts with horse-racing and charity gambling. Included in this timeline are numerous attempts to set up regulated land-based casinos – none of these have passed as of 2014.
1945: Charity bingo laws introduced.
1947: Mechanical slot machines had become hugely popular during the 1940's were outlawed by Governor Luther Youngdahl.
1972: State lottery begins.
1981: First high-stakes Bingo parlors appear on Indian lands. This date also marks the beginning point of decades of legal challenges and counter-challenges between Minnesota and its Native tribes.
1983: Pari-mutuel betting at racetracks approved after attempts lasting more than 5 years. The first racetrack to take advantage of this, Canterbury Downs, opens two years later in 1985.
1986: Video gaming machines appear in Tribal Casinos.
1989: After years of legal wrangling, the State signs compacts (agreements) with 7 tribes allowing video gambling. This year also saw the beginning of Simulcast live betting on games from out of State.
1991: Compacts with tribes extended to include Blackjack
1999: ‘Unbanked' card games allowed at Canterbury downs (this is mostly poker), card room opens 1 year later.
2012: Electronic gambling devices allowed at football Stadiums. This is in line with the charitable gambling laws and involves electronic pull-tab games (similar to slots). The cash raised will be used to fund Stadium development.
Minnesota Gambling Laws – Summary And Look To The Future
It is a case of the Tribes saving the day when it comes to gambling here. Without them you would only have racetracks and charity or social games. The tribal casinos add a new layer of choice and offer a lot of different games nowadays.
Looking to the future, there are mixed messages from recent legislative sessions. On one hand the remote pull-tab video games that will be introduced into football stadiums are an encouraging sign. On the other hand this State has failed to agree on a single land-based casino for many years, with the tribes holding a near-monopoly as a result. It is unclear whether this is the profile of a State who would willingly regulate online poker games – though once other States prove the model to be tax generating, the possibility is not closed.
Useful Resources:
Gambling Timeline
Gambling Statutes
- http://mn.gov/gcb/StatuteAndRules.htm
US Gambling Law Summary
Another Interesting History
By
Last Updated November 17, 2018
There's more to say than you might think about online poker in Minnesota. In fact, there's a good deal to say about Minnesota and gambling in general.
We won't be covering every aspect of betting and wagering in the Gopher State, but we will be giving you the heads-up on the history, the law and the future in this Guide to Minnesota and Online Poker.
If you're a poker player looking for some online action, you'll have little trouble getting it in Minnesota. There aren't any US-friendly poker sites we are aware of that restrict sign ups from the state, so you shouldn't encounter any problems finding a poker site accepting Minnesota players.
| Type/Code | Summary |
|---|---|
| State Code Section(s) | 349-350; 609.75-763 |
| Definitions | Lawful gambling: Not a lottery or gambling within the meaning of sections 609.75 to 609.76 if it is conducted under this chapter. A pull-tab dispensing device, electronic bingo device, and electronic pull-tab device permitted under this chapter and by board rule is not a gambling device within the meaning of sections 609.75 to 609.76 and chapter 299L. An electronic game device allowed under this chapter may not be a slot machine. Electronic game devices, including but not limited to electronic bingo devices, electronic paddlewheels, electronic pull-tab devices, and electronic raffle selection systems authorized under this chapter, may only be used in the conduct of lawful gambling permitted under this chapter and board rule and may not display or simulate any other form of gambling or entertainment, except as otherwise allowed under this chapter. Video game of chance: A game or device that simulates one or more games commonly referred to as poker, blackjack, craps, hi-lo, roulette, or other common gambling forms, though not offering any type of pecuniary award or gain to players. Social skill game: Sections 609.755 and 609.76 do not prohibit tournaments or contests that satisfy all of the following requirements: (1) the tournament or contest consists of the card games of chance commonly known as cribbage, skat, sheepshead, bridge, euchre, pinochle, gin, 500, smear, Texas hold'em, or whist; (2) the tournament or contest does not provide any direct financial benefit to the promoter or organizer; (3) the value of all prizes awarded for each tournament or contest does not exceed $200; and (4) for a tournament or contest involving Texas hold'em: (i) no person under 18 years of age may participate; (ii) the payment of an entry fee or other consideration for participating is prohibited; (iii) the value of all prizes awarded to an individual winner of a tournament or contest at a single location may not exceed $200 each day; and (iv) the organizer or promoter must ensure that reasonable accommodations are made for players with disabilities. Accommodations to the table and the cards shall include the announcement of the cards visible to the entire table and the use of Braille cards for players who are blind. |
| Online Poker/Gambling | Minnesota lawmakers have yet to consider any proposal to legalize online poker or internet casino games. |
| Live Poker | There are poker rooms in some of the casinos in Minnesota. |
| Casinos | Many of the Native American tribes in Minnesota operate some type of casino. The several racetracks in the state also offer some casino-style games, making them racinos. |
| Sports Betting | No bills have yet been introduced to legalize sports betting in Minnesota. |
| DFS | A bill to legalize paid-entry fantasy sports contests failed to pass a vote in the Senate. |
| Other Forms of Gambling | Recreational card games for seniors, horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, bingo, charitable gambling, redemption games, lottery. |
Is Online Poker Legal in Minnesota?
What does the law in Minnesota have to say about playing poker online for real money? Like many US states, the law regarding poker played online is complicated in Minnesota, and you should consult a lawyer for a definitive answer to this question. But to help you gain a better basic grasp on the general outlines of Minnesota law as it might apply to online poker, here is a quick list of key aspects of gambling law in the state:
Minnesota effectively outlaws all forms of gambling that aren't specifically permitted by law. The state accomplishes this with a broad definition of illegal gambling via the charge of 'acts of or relating to gambling' (Section 609.755), which makes it a misdemeanor to make 'a bet,' to participate in an illegal lottery, to spread information about an illegal lottery, to allow a place under your control to be used as a gambling house or to possess a gambling device.
The definition of 'bet,' therefore, is critical to Minnesota gambling law. Section 609.75(2) defines 'bet' 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.'
The section then further defines what does not constitute a bet, including approved raffles, approved pari-mutuel wagering, private social gambling and state-sold lottery tickets. Poker does not appear on this list (except implicitly under the social gambling exception).
Mn Statute Gambling Assessment
A separate class of gambling-related offenses result in gross misdemeanor charges. Most of the offenses in this section (609.76) are apparently targeted at those operating the illegal activity, but a few could conceivably apply to participants as well – especially the violation of participating 'in the income' of a 'gambling place.'
Minnesota law prohibits 'probability calculating devices' at licensed gaming facilities (Section (609.76). The law is a bit vague, but given that it bans 'keeping track of or counting cards used in a game,' it would seem to cover many popular pieces of poker software. However, online poker rooms are not licensed by the state of Minnesota, so players don't have to worry about this odd part of the state's gambling law.
To learn more about Minnesota law and how it might apply to playing poker online for real money, access the full Minnesota statutes below.
Will Minnesota Regulate Online Poker?
In our opinion, Minnesota does have a better chance than the typical US state of having state-regulated online poker in the next few years. The state had taken a relatively liberal attitude toward gambling expansion in the last decade, and a nationwide trend of regulating online poker could easily generate sufficient momentum to pull Minnesota along in its wake.
Minnesota Gambling Facts
As the State Lottery of Minnesota tells it, gambling has been a part of Minnesota basically since there was such a thing called Minnesota. Both native cultures and settlers left ample evidence of gambling games in records and other cultural artifacts. Along with that history goes a tradition of strong anti-gambling laws in the state, which broadly outlawed gambling in 1850 and then enshrined a similar stance in the Minnesota Constitution in 1857. Minnesota gamblers went indoors and underground for the better part of the next 100 years until the pendulum swung back in favor of regulated gambling in the state during the middle of the 1900s.
What Regulated Gambling Options are in Minnesota?
The only form of regulated gambling you won't find in Minnesota: Commercial casinos (although the state's racetracks are working diligently to change that). Minnesota has a state lottery, pari-mutuel wagering at the aforementioned racetracks, a very substantial charitable gambling industry and a host of tribal gambling facilities which also offer mobile gambling. Grand sierra resort and casino reno nv. Minnesota racetracks may also offer table games like poker and blackjack.
Is Online Gambling Regulated by the Minnesota Government?
Not in the traditional sense, but the state took a large step in the direction of regulating Internet gambling when it issued final approval for electronic pull-tab machines [3] in September of 2012. The games can be played remotely using a tablet (at approved locations) and in many ways resemble a slot machine.
All Poker and Gambling Laws by State
Minnesota charitable gaming operators are asking the state legislature for tax breaks. Some of those charitable organizations say they pay more in taxes each year than they pay towards good works. For instance, the Duluth charitable gambling foundation, Irving Community Association, said it pays more than double in taxes than
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Read FullA federal judge rejected an dubious legal argument made by a former Las Vegas daily fantasy sports company, which argued that its business was illegal. The company, Emil Interactive Games LLC, made the argument in order to get out of a $1.1 million contract with a hocket team. Emil Interactive
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Continuing Your Minnesota Gambling Research
Minnesota Legislative Reference Library . An excellent place to begin research concerning the evolution of gambling law in Minnesota. Contains a timeline (with links) of all relevant legislation and an extensive list of related reports, papers and books on the subject.
Minnesota Gambling Control Board. Home for the applications, paperwork, regulatory and financial information related to regulated charitable gambling in the state of Minnesota. If you have questions about what's legal and how to ensure compliance, the GCB site should be your first stop.
Minnesota Indian Gaming Association Get a tribal perspective on Minnesota gambling with resources from this trade group for Minnesota tribes involved in the industry. Easy way to get an overview of the different tribes, their position on issues and key facts and figures regarding tribal gambling in Minnesota.
Minnesota's Place in Poker History
While not home to many legends of the game, Minnesota maintains frequent links to poker. One example is Minnesotan John Morgan, a man involved in what may end up being among the most famous poker hands ever. The hand took place during the 2012 $1m buy in Big One for One Drop at the World Series of Poker. Morgan fired a massive river bet in a huge pot against opponent Mikhail Smirnov, and Smirnov – to the shock of onlookers at the Rio and around the world – folded his quad eights face-up on the table. Only one hand – a possible straight flush – beat Smirnov, but Morgan has yet to reveal the cards he was holding.
Minnesota Gambling Statutes
While not a native of Minnesota, WSOP champion and modern-day poker legend Greg Raymer is said to have picked up the game while attending law school at the University of Minnesota.
Mn State Statutes Gambling
Sources & Citations For This Article on Minnesota Online Poker
