Minnesota sports betting

Is sports betting legal in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota hasn't legalized sports betting in any form, so there are no licensed online sportsbooks, retail sportsbooks or betting kiosks. The American Gaming Association's 2026 state report records that a sports betting bill was considered and not enacted.

State enforcement agencies are explicit about it. DPS-AGE's August 20, 2025 guidance lists sports betting sites with online casinos and sweepstakes casinos as illegal in Minnesota, and says that applies to the sites and to Minnesotans who use them. The DPS-AGE guidance (opens in a new tab) states the position in plain terms.

Our Minnesota gambling laws page covers the offenses in Minnesota Statutes sections 609.755 to 609.76, and the Minnesota hub puts sports betting next to the state's other gambling options.

Legal Minnesota sports betting apps and launch date

There are no legal Minnesota sports betting apps, and there's no launch date because no law exists to license one. Any app or website offering Minnesotans real-money sports bets today is operating without state approval. That includes offshore sportsbooks that market heavily across Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Rochester.

If Minnesota does pass a bill, the details that matter to bettors, such as which operators can apply, whether tribes run the market, the betting age and the tax rate, would be set in that law. None of that exists yet, so treat any site claiming to be "Minnesota licensed" for sports betting with suspicion. Our mobile casinos in Minnesota page explains why the same applies to casino apps.

Why Minnesota has no sportsbooks years after Murphy v. NCAA

On May 14, 2018, the US Supreme Court decided Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association by 6-3. Justice Alito's majority opinion found that the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act unconstitutionally ordered states not to authorize sports gambling, and that no part of the law could be saved. Read the Supreme Court's Murphy opinion (opens in a new tab) for the full reasoning.

The ruling didn't legalize sports betting anywhere. It handed the choice to each state. Minnesota lawmakers have debated bills since, but none has become law, which leaves the state without a legal market. Our PASPA and Murphy v. NCAA page and the sports betting laws overview track the national picture.

Offshore sportsbooks named by Minnesota's Attorney General

On November 5, 2025, Attorney General Keith Ellison announced letters to 14 gambling websites directing them to stop serving Minnesotans. Most of the names were sportsbooks or combined sportsbook-casino brands. The Attorney General's announcement (opens in a new tab) has the full list.

Three sweepstakes brands made up the rest of the 14; our Minnesota sweepstakes casinos page covers them. We review two of the sportsbook brands in depth: Bovada and BetOnline. Offshore books have no Minnesota regulator, so disputes over voided bets, limits or slow payouts are settled by their own terms.

Federal law: the Wire Act and UIGEA

Two federal laws shape online sports betting. The Wire Act of 1961 targets people in the business of betting who use wire communications for interstate or foreign bets. In New Hampshire Lottery Commission v. Rosen, decided January 20, 2021, the First Circuit held that the Act's prohibitions apply only to bets on sporting events or contests. The First Circuit's decision (opens in a new tab) has limits: a June 2021 letter from state attorneys general said it directly binds the Justice Department only as to the parties in that case.

UIGEA, passed in 2006, bars betting businesses from accepting payments tied to unlawful internet gambling. Neither law makes placing a bet a federal crime for an individual, and state law decides legality for bettors. Our Wire Act and UIGEA pages go through both.

Minnesota sports betting age

Minnesota has no legal sports betting age because it has no legal sports betting. A future law would set one. Offshore sites pick their own minimum: Silver Oak's terms say 21, or the local legal age if higher, while SlotoCash's terms say 18+. Those are casino terms, not Minnesota law.

Our gambling age by state table shows the ages other states set for sports betting, casinos and the lottery.

Daily fantasy, prediction markets and other options in Minnesota

We couldn't confirm a Minnesota statute on daily fantasy sports either way, so check the latest state guidance before relying on any app. Federal prediction markets are a separate fight: a Congressional Research Service report dated August 17, 2026 lists bills such as the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act and the Fair Markets and Sports Integrity Act, and records none as enacted. See prediction markets and our daily fantasy sports laws page.

At the federal level, the SAFE Bet Act of 2025 would add federal standards to state-regulated sports betting. It wouldn't create a market in Minnesota on its own.

Minnesota sports betting taxes: what you owe on winnings

Gambling winnings are taxable federal income, including winnings from offshore sportsbooks. For 2026, the IRS W-2G instructions (opens in a new tab) set reporting for sports and other wagering at $2,000 or more in winnings and at least 300 times the wager, with 24% regular withholding where winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000.

1. Take a $20 bet that pays $6,500 in winnings.
2. Check the 300x test: $20 × 300 = $6,000, and $6,500 is above that, so a licensed payer would issue a W-2G.
3. Check withholding: $6,500 − $20 = $6,480, which is more than $5,000, so 24% withholding would apply at a licensed payer.
4. Report the winnings on your return whether or not you get a form, and keep records of losses.

Losses are deductible only up to winnings, and from the 2026 tax year the 2025 federal tax law reportedly caps the deduction at 90% of losses, so check IRS guidance. State tax treatment isn't covered here. Our gambling loss deduction page has more.

Help with sports betting in Minnesota

Sports betting can feel like a skill game, but sportsbooks build a margin into their odds, so losing over time is the expected result. If betting has started to cost more than you planned, help is free and confidential.

• Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling: 800-333-HOPE (4673), or text HOPE to 53342.
• National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), call or text, with chat through the National Council on Problem Gambling (opens in a new tab).
• Gamblers Anonymous: free peer meetings in person and online.
• Blocking software: tools such as Gamban block gambling sites and apps on your devices.

Our chasing losses guide explains a pattern many bettors recognize.

Casino offers shown to Minnesota readers (not sportsbooks)

None of our partner casinos runs a sportsbook, so no offer here fits this page's topic. The two below are offshore online casinos with slot bonuses. They aren't licensed by Minnesota or any US state, Minnesota officials say online casinos are illegal for sites and players, and there's no state regulator to help with a dispute or a slow payout. Check your state's law before deciding anything. We earn a commission through our links and rank partners commercially.

SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's own site lists a different package, $7,777 plus 300 spins across five deposits, so the terms shown at sign-up apply. Its published terms say 25x wagering on deposit plus bonus, a $20 minimum deposit per bonus and no max cashout, for slots, keno and scratch cards. SlotoCash publishes a $2,500 cap per Bitcoin or wire withdrawal. Michigan's regulator named SlotoCash in an October 8, 2026 cease-and-desist release. See the SlotoCash review.

Decode Casino: $5,000 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Decode's own site shows a $111 free chip with no visible terms. Third-party reviews report a 111% match up to $1,111 with 25x wagering on bonus plus deposit and a $25 minimum deposit, and weekly caps of $2,500 or $5,000 depending on the source. Decode is reported to refuse players from Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington; Minnesota isn't on that reported list. See the Decode review.

Both bonuses are for slots; table games are often excluded or weighted lower, so read the terms.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).