Minnesota Sports Betting
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Legal sports betting still hasn’t arrived in Minnesota, and the 2026 session ended without a breakthrough. SF 4139, sponsored by Sen. Nick Frentz, would have given the state’s 11 tribes exclusive rights to run mobile sportsbooks at a 22% tax rate, but it lost momentum after a 22-44 procedural vote in the Senate on March 23 and wasn’t revived before lawmakers adjourned in May. That keeps Minnesota in a dwindling group of states with no regulated sports betting market at all.
Lawmakers did act on a related front. In 2026, Minnesota became the first state to pass a law banning prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi, but a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in late July, days before the ban was set to take effect on August 1, so those platforms remain available while the legal fight plays out. Residents also have a handful of other legal options, including daily fantasy sports, the Minnesota Lottery, pari-mutuel horse racing at Canterbury Park and Running Aces, and charitable gaming.
Below, we track where Minnesota’s legalization effort stands heading into the 2027 session and break down every legal wagering option available to residents right now.
Is sports betting legal in Minnesota?
No. Sports betting is not legal in Minnesota, despite years of legislative debate and multiple proposals aimed at creating a regulated market. The latest attempt, a 2026 bill that would have authorized tribal mobile sportsbooks, stalled in the Senate and didn’t survive the legislative session. Traditional sports betting remains unavailable, though residents do have other legal wagering options, including daily fantasy sports, prediction markets, and parimutuel horse racing.
Minnesota Betting Sites in October 2026
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The future of Minnesota sports betting
Minnesota remains one of the largest states without legal sports betting, but the issue continues to receive attention at the Capitol. In recent years, lawmakers, tribal gaming operators, horse racing interests, and professional sports teams have all participated in discussions surrounding a potential framework, though no proposal has been able to secure enough support to become law.
The biggest challenge has been finding a compromise that satisfies all stakeholders. Tribal nations generally support a model that gives them a central role in sports betting, while racetracks and other interested parties have sought a share of the market or revenue. Those competing priorities have repeatedly stalled legislation despite growing public interest in legalization.
As of 2026, no sports betting bill has crossed the finish line, but Minnesota remains a state to watch. Lawmakers continue to introduce proposals, and many observers believe a breakthrough is possible if tribes, racetracks, and legislators can reach a long-term agreement on how a regulated market should operate.
What’s happening in Minnesota sports betting right now
- May 2026 — Another legislative session concludes without the passage of a sports betting bill. While discussions continue among lawmakers, tribal nations, racetracks, and professional sports teams, Minnesota remains one of the largest states without a regulated sports betting market.
- January 2025 — Lawmakers signal that sports betting will remain a priority issue heading into the new legislative session. Tribal-backed proposals continue to form the foundation of legalization discussions, though questions surrounding racetrack participation and revenue allocation remain unresolved.
- Oct. 17, 2024 — At the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, Minnesota Indian Gaming Association executive director Andy Platto said stakeholders in Minnesota have agreed on the framework of sports betting legislation but that he is still concerned about having the votes to pass it.
- Aug. 27, 2024 — Minnesota tribal leaders reportedly believe Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would favor pro-tribe gaming policies if she becomes the new governor following a Harris-Walz win in the 2024 Presidential election.
- May 21, 2024 — Minnesota sports betting legislation failed once again as the legislative session ended on May 20 without passing any new sports betting bills.
- May 10, 2024 — Minnesota Rep. Zack Stephenson puts language from sports betting bill HF 2000 into new legislation, HF 5274, in another attempt to pass legislation before the end of the legislative session on May 20.
- May 2, 2024 — Multiple Minnesota lawmakers have said they do not expect sports betting legislation to pass the Senate before the legislative session adjourns on May 20.
- April 19, 2024 — A Minnesota horse racing track is suing three tribal casinos under accusations of violating the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act through illegal card games. The lawsuit is a hit to the pursuit of legal sports betting in the state.
- April 5, 2024 — Minnesota Sen. John Marty files a new Minnesota sports betting bill, SF 5330. The new bill is similar to the two other active sports betting bills but would raise the tax rate to 40% instead of the proposed 20% in the other bills.
Sports betting apps that could launch in Minnesota
We can make an educated guess that a future of legal sports betting in Minnesota would likely include a combination of the usual top sportsbooks and brands already in the region.
We also know that the sports betting industry in Minnesota, if legalized, would almost certainly be under the exclusive control of the native tribes in the state. Eleven tribes run the 19 casinos in the state, and it is likely that some or all of those casinos would partner with online sports betting platforms.
HF 2000, 2024’s failed bill, would have given control of the industry to the 11 tribes and carry a 10% tax rate (an amended Senate version would have a 20% tax rate).
Given the above information, here are a few potential sportsbooks that could launch in the state upon legalization and begin offering online sports betting promos:
- DraftKings: One of the top sportsbooks in the US, DraftKings is one of the likeliest to launch in Minnesota given the company’s apparent desire to operate in every state that it possibly can. DraftKings also already has a presence in the state via its daily fantasy sports contests. Finally, the company is already partnered with the Wild Rose Casino & Hotel in Emmetsburg, Iowa, near the Minnesota-Iowa border. Many Minnesotans will already be familiar with the brand as they have to travel across state lines to place legal bets.
- FanDuel: Like DraftKings, FanDuel already has an established presence in Minnesota through its DFS offerings. Also like DraftKings, FanDuel operates a sportsbook at a casino near the Minnesota-Iowa border, as the Diamond Jo Worth Casino in Northwood, Iowa, sits right on the border between the two states.
- Caesars: Minnesotans who have traveled south to Iowa to bet on sports may be familiar with the Caesars experience as five casinos in that state have partnered with this sportsbook — more than any other operator in Iowa. Another one of the most popular sportsbooks in the country, Caesars offers a full lineup of promotions, bonuses, and competitive odds in states where it operates.
- BetMGM: One of the biggest names in gambling and sports betting in the US, BetMGM is a logical fit for Minnesota and would likely be attracted to a market with a sizeable population and four major professional sports teams. BetMGM is also known for its deep selection of sports and betting options.
- Betfred: A third casino sits right near the border between Minnesota and Iowa, and it contains a Betfred-run book. There may again be some familiarity for Minnesotans, as Betfred operates two other sportsbooks in Iowa, as well.
How to bet on sports in Minnesota
Legal online betting would give bettors the option to sign up and wager at their preferred sportsbook from the comfort of their home, while retail betting would allow bettors to wager in person at designated locations. Whether either or both options become legal in the future, here’s how to sign up and wager:
1. Pick a sportsbook
Bettors will be able to pick their Minnesota sports betting site based on the best promos or bonuses available, the best odds, customer service, user experience, or a variety of other factors.
2. Register
Registration is a quick and easy process of entering personal information and verifying your location. If Minnesota legalizes online sports betting, users may be able to sign up on their mobile devices from anywhere in the state.
3. Claim a bonus or promo
Claiming a sports betting promo or bonus is the best way to maximize your bankroll when starting out at a new book.
4. Make a deposit
Once you’ve claimed your bonus, you can deposit some funds to wager with. Legal sports betting sites will generally give users multiple options. Credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and bank transfers are common deposit methods.
5. Place your bets
You’ve claimed your bonus and deposited some money; now it’s time to wager. All four of Minnesota’s major pro sports teams will be popular bets for spreads, totals, futures, props, and live betting if wagering on sports becomes legal in the state.
6. Make a withdrawal
Withdrawing funds at Minnesota sports betting sites likely wouldn’t take more than a few business days and in some cases could be quicker.
Other legal betting options in Minnesota
DFS pick’em in Minnesota
Daily Fantasy Sports Pick’em contests remain one of the most popular fantasy sports formats available to Minnesota players. Instead of drafting a full lineup, users make selections based on whether individual athletes will finish above or below projected statistical totals in categories such as points, rebounds, passing yards, strikeouts, and more.
A number of operators offer pick-based contests across professional and college sports, giving Minnesota sports fans another way to test their knowledge despite the state’s lack of legal sports betting. Contest formats, prize structures, and available sports can vary by platform.
Sleeper Minnesota
Mostly known as a free fantasy sports platform offering NFL- and NBA-based fantasy leagues, Sleeper also provides a pick’em game: Sleeper Picks. Sleeper Picks requires users to get every selection correct to receive a payout. Users select the over/under on between two and eight player stats. The more correct picks, the higher the payout.
Betr Picks Minnesota
Betr Picks contests are essentially the same as Sleeper Picks. All picks must be correct to win, and users pick between two and eight stat lines. The one small difference is that Betr Picks users select “yes” or “no” on whether a player will go OVER the relevant line, whereas Sleeper users select the standard over or under on a line.
Prediction Markets in Minnesota
Prediction markets have emerged as a growing alternative for Minnesotans interested in future-event forecasting. Rather than placing wagers with a sportsbook, participants buy and sell contracts tied to specific outcomes, with values changing as market sentiment shifts.
Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket feature markets covering everything from championship winners and award races to elections, economic reports, and major news events. While prediction markets share some similarities with sports betting, they operate under a different structure and have attracted increasing interest in states where traditional sportsbooks are not yet available.
Parimutuel Betting in Minnesota
Horse racing remains one of the few forms of regulated wagering available in Minnesota, featuring platforms such as FanDuel Racing.. Through the state’s parimutuel system, bettors can place wagers on horse races at licensed racetracks, with payouts determined by the total amount wagered into each betting pool rather than fixed odds.
Minnesota is home to Canterbury Park and Running Aces, two venues that offer live racing and simulcast wagering throughout the year. Residents can also access approved online racebooks, making it possible to bet on major racing events such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Breeders’ Cup from anywhere within the state.
Lottery
The Minnesota Lottery offers the standard menu of lotto games, scratchers, print-n-play games, and raffles. Minnesotans can also participate in national lotteries such as Powerball and Mega Millions.
Most popular sports to bet on in Minnesota
Minnesota has a team in every major sport, and none of them lack support.
NFL betting in Minnesota
The NFL is the most bet-on sport in the US, and the Minnesota Vikings are by far the most popular team in the state.
Even though the Vikings have never won a Super Bowl and haven’t made the big game since the Purple People Eaters of the ’70s, each game brings out raucous fans in Vikings horns chanting “Skol!” The team has its own fight song played after each touchdown, field goal, and safety in an act of pride usually reserved for college sports.
MLB betting in Minnesota
The Minnesota Twins hold a special place in the heart of Minnesotans, being the only professional team in the state to win a championship title. Since moving to Minnesota in 1961, the Twins have won the World Series in 1987 and 1991.
The Twins won the American League Central division title in 2019 and 2020 but failed to advance passed the first round of the playoffs in either season.
NBA betting in Minnesota
Minnesota has a long history in the NBA. The Lakers didn’t get their name because Los Angeles is known for its lakes.
The Minneapolis Lakers won five NBA championships before the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960, starting a love affair between Minnesota and basketball.
The Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t been as exciting since their founding in 1989, only winning one division title when led by Kevin Garnett in 2004. However, the Timberwolves have some exciting young players in Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell.
NHL betting in Minnesota
The Minnesota Wild are relatively new to the NHL, entering the league in the year 2000, but they have actually been the most successful sports team in Minnesota over the past decade.
While the Wild don’t have the history of the Vikings or Twins, they have made the playoffs in nine of the last 10 seasons. However, they only won a round in two of those nine appearances.
NCAA betting in Minnesota
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have a history as a football program going back to 1882. The team has won seven national titles, though the last one was 60 years ago.
Coach P.J. Fleck has the team back on the rise with bowl wins in three of the last four seasons. Although the glory years are long gone, Minnesota is a football state, and the Gophers would be a popular bet if wagering on college sports eventually becomes legal.
Minnesota sports betting timeline
2026: Minnesota enters another legislative year without legal sports betting. Discussions continue among lawmakers, tribal gaming operators, racetracks, and professional sports organizations, but no agreement emerges that can unite all major stakeholders behind a single proposal.
2025: Sports betting remains a topic of discussion at the Capitol as supporters search for a compromise that balances tribal gaming interests with those of the state’s horse racing industry. Despite continued negotiations, Minnesota does not join the growing list of states with regulated sportsbooks.
2024: Lawmakers introduce multiple MN sports betting bills during the legislative session, including proposals backed by Rep. Zack Stephenson. Several measures gain traction and receive support from key stakeholders, while Gov. Tim Walz reiterates that he would sign a sports betting bill if it reached his desk. The session ends, however, without a compromise capable of passing both chambers.
2023: Sports betting legislation once again falls short as disagreements over the role of Minnesota’s racetracks prevent lawmakers from reaching a consensus. Despite growing support for legalization, the issue remains unresolved when the legislative session adjourns.
2022: Momentum builds behind sports betting legislation, with a House proposal advancing further than previous efforts. Negotiations break down after the Senate pushes to include Minnesota’s horse racing tracks in the market, a provision opposed by tribal gaming interests. Lawmakers end the session without reaching a final agreement.
2021: Multiple sports betting bills are introduced, but none gain significant traction. Late in the year, Rep. Zack Stephenson signals plans to make sports betting a legislative priority heading into the 2022 session.
2020: Previously introduced sports betting bills carry over into the new session. Efforts to find common ground between lawmakers and tribal gaming operators prove unsuccessful, and the Legislature adjourns without advancing sports betting legislation.
2019: Minnesota lawmakers make their first serious push to legalize sports betting following the repeal of PASPA. Competing proposals emerge in the House and Senate, but both face opposition from tribal gaming interests and fail to advance.
The Bottom Line on Minnesota Sports Betting
Minnesota still doesn’t have legal sports betting, despite years of trying. The latest attempt, Senator Nick Frentz’s SF 4139, would have let the state’s 11 tribes operate mobile sportsbooks under a 22% tax. It cleared committee review before dying on a failed procedural vote in March 2026. The real holdup hasn’t changed in years: tribal nations want central control of the market, racetracks want a share of the revenue, and that disagreement has sunk nearly every bill since the first serious push in 2019.
Until that gets resolved, Minnesotans do have legal options today, just not a licensed sportsbook.
- 🎯 Prediction Markets Fill Part of the Gap: Polymarket, FanDuel Predicts, and ProphetX | These CFTC-regulated platforms let Minnesotans trade on sports outcomes legally, without needing state-licensed sports betting to exist first.
- 🏆 DFS Remains Legal Right Now: Sleeper and Betr Picks | Pick’em-style daily fantasy contests operate under Minnesota’s existing DFS rules, a real option while sports betting legislation stalls.
- 🏇 Horse Racing Is a Legal Option Too | Canterbury Park and Running Aces both offer parimutuel wagering in-state, outside the sports betting debate entirely.
- ⚖️ The Tribes-vs-Racetracks Standoff Is the Real Story | It’s not public opposition or a lack of legislative interest holding Minnesota back, it’s a years-long disagreement over who controls the market and who gets a cut.
- 📅 Don’t Expect a Quick Fix | With SF 4139 already dead for this session and the same tribal-racetrack conflict unresolved, Minnesota sports betting is more likely a multi-year wait than a next-session lock.
Between prediction markets, DFS, and horse racing, Minnesota residents have legitimate ways to engage with sports outcomes today. A licensed sportsbook just isn’t one of them yet.
Minnesota sports betting FAQ
No. Right now, there are no legal options for sports betting in Minnesota. That could change in the future, as state legislators appear interested in legalizing wagering.
Prior legislation would create a new entity titled the Minnesota Sports Wagering Commission to regulate sports betting.
Not at the moment. However, newly proposed sports betting legislation is making its way through the Minnesota legislative session.
The legal gambling age in Minnesota is 21.
No. There are currently no sportsbooks that are licensed at the federal level, which means all US sportsbooks are licensed at the state level. Any website that suggests betting from anywhere in the US is allowed is a website that operates offshore. It is not legal for those sites to accept bets from US citizens, and such sites offer no protection to those who bet on them.