Is Sports Betting Legal in Minnesota?

Is sports betting legal in Minnesota?

No. Sports betting is not legal in Minnesota. There are no licensed sportsbooks, no betting windows at the state's tribal casinos or racetracks and no regulated mobile apps. Minnesota is now surrounded by neighbours that allow at least some form of legal wagering, which keeps the issue on the agenda at the State Capitol every year.

Lawmakers have tried repeatedly since 2018. The main obstacle has been finding a deal acceptable to the state's eleven tribal nations, which operate Minnesota's casinos, as well as the two horse racing tracks and charitable gaming groups. In the 2026 session a mobile betting bill again failed to pass both chambers before the Legislature adjourned in May, so legal sports betting will not arrive in Minnesota before 2027 at the earliest.

What Minnesotans can do legally

If you want to bet with a licensed sportsbook, you need to be physically located in a state where it is legal. Iowa is the most convenient option for full mobile betting, and all three sportsbooks we review, BetMGM, bet365 and BetRivers, are licensed there. Accounts are tied to your location at the moment of each bet, so an app opened in Iowa will not accept wagers once you return to Minnesota.

Offshore sites that market to Minnesotans are not licensed in any US state, offer no consumer protection and are not a safe way to bet.

• Iowa: full mobile market, including BetMGM, bet365 and BetRivers.
• Wisconsin: in-person betting at some tribal casinos.
• North Dakota and South Dakota: retail sportsbooks only.

Vikings, Twins and the betting debate

The Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild, Lynx and Minnesota United give Minnesota a deep professional sports culture, and the Gophers draw crowds in football and hockey. Supporters of legalisation point to the volume of Minnesotans already betting across the border; opponents raise concerns about problem gambling and about the impact on tribal revenue. Debates in recent sessions have also covered prediction markets and online sweepstakes casinos.

Proposals have usually given the tribes control of mobile licences, with racetracks seeking a share of the market. Some versions also included strict advertising limits and dedicated funding for problem gambling services, reflecting concerns from public health advocates.

Help for problem gambling

Minnesota funds free problem gambling treatment, and the state helpline is available at 1-800-333-HOPE. The Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling also provides information and support. We will update this page as soon as a bill becomes law.