Minnesota has a long history with the Native American Tribes, which is where all of the casino gambling in the state comes from.
There are over 20 tribal casinos in MN, offering a range of electronic gaming machines and pari-mutuel betting.
Apart from wagering at casinos and racetracks, Minnesota residents are also able to play the lottery and bingo.
Online Casinos in Minnesota
Minnesota has not legalized any forms of online gambling in the state just yet.
It does not look like it’s going to be legal to play at an online casino any time soon, as Minnesota tends to have a more traditional look on gambling.
If you’re caught playing on an online casino, the biggest consequence you’ll face is a “misdemeanor.” This has no real penalties attached.
So far, no one in Minnesota has gotten into any legal trouble for gambling online.
The state could potentially legalize Daily Fantasy Sports in the near future, which would be the sole online gambling option.
Land-Based Casinos in Minnesota
All Minnesota casinos are located on Indian reservations and under a compact reached with the state the only table games permitted are card games such as blackjack and poker.
Additionally, the only kind of slot machines allowed at casinos in Minnesota is the electronic video variety.
Therefore, you will not find any mechanical slots that have traditional reels – only video screens.
Optional games include: poker, Caribbean stud poker, pai gow poker, three-card poker, ultimate Texas hold’em, Mississippi stud, let it ride, and bingo.
There are no casinos in Minneapolis. However, there are two casinos near Minneapolis. About 25 miles southwest is Mystic Lake Casino, which is also the largest casino in Minnesota.
The other is the Little Six Casino, which is affiliated with Mystic Lake and is within a one-mile drive from that casino.
Types of Casino in Minnesota
Indian Casinos
Every casino facility in MN is operated by a Native American Tribe.
According to the terms of the compact between the state and the tribes, the minimum and maximum payouts for casinos in Minnesota are regulated as follows:
- video poker and video blackjack – 83% to 98%
- slot machines – 80% to 95%
- keno – 75% to 95%
Each tribe is free to set its machines to pay back anywhere within those limits and the tribes do not release any information regarding their slot machine percentage paybacks.
This means that there is no way to tell which MN casino payouts are the best.
Unlike the casinos in Minnesota, in many U.S. states, the slot machine payback statistics for that particular state’s casinos are released as a matter of public record. Just click here to see a list of slot machine payback statistics for all U.S. casinos.
Pari-Mutuel Wagering
Betting on horses was legalized in the 1980s after the state spent decades going back and forth trying to pass a bill for it.
Pari-mutuel betting is permitted at two horse racetracks in MN; Canterbury Park and Running Aces.
Off-track betting is illegal in MN, as well as dog racing.
List Of Land-based Casinos In Minnesota
Click on any of the following casinos below to learn more about the facility.
Black Bear Casino Resort
The casino features slots, Blackjack and poker. Dining options include a relaxed steakhouse, a buffet-style eatery and a deli. There’s also an indoor pool, 2 hot tubs and a sauna.
- Address: 1785 MN-210, Carlton, MN 55718
- Phone: 218-878-2327
- Website: http://www.blackbearcasinoresort.com/
Canterbury Park
Wide-ranging complex featuring a 24/7 casino, horse racing, concerts & other activities
- Address: 1100 Canterbury Road south, Shakopee, MN 55379
- Phone: 952-445-7223
- Website: https://www.canterburypark.com/cards/
Fond-du-Luth Casino
Adult gaming center housing blackjack tables with a broad range of limits, 750+ slots & bar service.
- Address: 129 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802
- Phone: 218-720-5100
- Website: http://www.fondduluthcasino.com/
Fortune Bay Resort Casino
Amenities include an indoor pool, a wading pool, a hot tub, a sauna and a gym, as well as over 25,000 sq ft of gaming space. There’s a sports bar and a cafe, plus 4 restaurants, and concert venues
- Address: 1430 Bois Forte Rd, Tower, MN 55790
- Phone: 218-753-6400
- Website: fortunebay.com
Grand Casino Hinckley
Classic casino hotel offering 5 restaurants & a bar with live entertainment, plus a spa & a pool.
- Address: 777 Lady Luck Dr, Hinckley, MN 55037
- Phone: 320-384-7771
- Website: https://grandcasinomn.com/
Grand Casino Mille Lacs
The largest casino hotel resort in the Lake Country, with 494 rooms, full Vegas-style gaming floor including slots, table games and poker.
- Address: 777 Grand Ave, Vineland, MN 56359
- Phone: 320-532-7777
- Website: https://grandcasinomn.com/gaming/
Grand Portage Lodge & Casino
The 15,000-sq-ft, 24-hour casino has a bingo hall and more than 400 slot machines, and the dining room/lounge serves regional specialties and take-out pizza.
- Address: 70 Casino Dr, Grand Portage, MN 55605
- Phone: 218-475-2401
- Website: https://www.grandportage.com/
Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel
The casino provides slots, Blackjack and bingo. There’s also an indoor pool with a waterslide and kiddie pool. Other amenities include a game and movie room, an event center, a 24-hour gym and an outdoor amphitheater
- Address: 39375 County Rd 24, Morton, MN 56270
- Phone: 800-946-2274
- Website: https://www.jackpotjunction.com/
Little Six Casino
All-in-one gambling complex with slots & table games, live music, restaurants, bars & a hotel.
- Address: 2450 Sioux Trail NW, Prior Lake, MN 55372
- Phone: 952-403-5525
Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
Casino attractions include blackjack tables, slot machines and a high-stakes bingo hall, plus 3 live entertainment stages (fee). There’s also an indoor pool, a hot tub, a day spa (fee) and a gym.
- Address: 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd NW, Prior Lake, MN 55372
- Phone: 800-262-7799
- Website: https://mysticlake.com/
Northern Lights Casino & Hotel
Gaming hall for poker, blackjack & more, with a hotel, live entertainment & multiple dining options.
- Address: 6800 Y Frontage Rd NW, Walker, MN 56484
- Phone: 844-554-2646
- Website: https://www.northernlightscasino.com/
Palace Casino Hotel
Amenities include an on-site casual restaurant, and a cafe offering light bites. The casino has poker, blackjack, slot machines and bingo.
- Address: 16599 69th Ave NW, Cass Lake, MN 56633
- Phone: 844-554-2646
Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort
Find the hottest new video slots, live blackjack, virtual roulette, video keno, video poker and more. Smoking and non-smoking casino areas are available for everyone’s enjoyment.
- Address: 5616 Prairies Edge Ln, Granite Falls, MN 56241
- Phone: 320-564-2121
- Website: http://www.prairiesedgecasino.com/
Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack
24-hour casino providing table games & seasonal horse races, plus a restaurant & live entertainment.
- Address: 15201 Running Aces Blvd, Columbus, MN 55025
- Phone: 651-925-4600
- Website: https://www.runaces.com/
Seven Clans Casino Red Lake
Seven Clans Casinos is a tribal gaming enterprise which is owned and operated by Red Lake Nation, and consists of three casinos: Seven Clans Casino Red Lake, Seven Clans Casino Warroad, and Seven Clans Casino Thief River Falls.
- Address: 10200 MN-89, Red Lake, MN 56671
- Phone: 888-679-2501
- Website: https://www.sevenclanscasino.com/
Seven Clans Casino Thief River Falls
Amenities include 2 informal restaurants, an indoor water park, and a casino featuring slots and blackjack. Live music and events are also offered.
- Address: 20595 Center St E, Thief River Falls, MN 56701
- Phone: 800-881-0712
- Website: https://www.sevenclanscasino.com/
Seven Clans Casino Warroad
Featuring over 580 slot machines offering you plenty of variety. You’ll find video slots in denominations ranging from pennies to dollars, blackjack, video poker and video keno in denominations from nickels to dollars. Also featuring number of progressive machines that offer you a chance to take home some really big jackpots.
- Address: 34966 605th Ave, Warroad, MN 56763
- Phone: 218-386-3381
- Website: https://www.sevenclanscasino.com/hotel/warroad/reservations/
Shooting Star Casino – Bagley
170+ of the newest and favorite slot games, including table games, poker, blackjack and exquisite dining options in beautiful Bagley.
- Address: 13325 340th Street, Bagley, MN 56621
- Phone: 800-453-7827
- Website: https://www.starcasino.com/bagley-home/
Shooting Star Casino Hotel
Lively, modern casino resort offering no-frills rooms, plus a heated indoor pool & a concert venue.
- Address: 777 SE Casino Rd, Mahnomen, MN 56557
- Phone: 800-453-7827
- Website: https://www.starcasino.com/
Treasure Island Resort Casino
The casino provides slots, bingo and table games. There’s also an indoor pool, a golf course and a fitness center, plus bowling lanes, arcades and 2 hot tubs.
- Address: 5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd, Welch, MN 55089
- Phone: 800-222-7077
- Website: https://www.ticasino.com/
White Oak Casino
Casino resort with slots, table games, blackjack, poker and more.
- Address: 45830 US-2, Deer River, MN 56636
- Phone: 218-246-9600
- Website: https://www.whiteoakcasino.com/
Minnesota Land-Based Casinos Map
You can easily see all casino locations by using our Minnesota casinos map. To zoom in, just click the + (plus) sign in the lower right corner of the map, or to zoom out, just click the – (minus) sign in the same area.
To move the map of casinos in Minnesota, click and hold down either of your mouse buttons. Then use the hand icon to drag the map in whichever direction you desire.
Each of the red icons on the map is a casino location. Just click on any red icon to see the name of the casino at that location. If you want more information on that casino, simply click again on the casino’s name and it will direct you to another page with detailed information on that particular casino, including address, phone number, toll-free phone number, room rates, casino size, dining information, games offered, availability of discounts for seniors, any special features, and a direct link to that casino’s website.
History Of Gambling In Minnesota
The first form of legal gambling in Minnesota was bingo, which kicked off in 1945.
It wasn’t until the ’80s when things really got started, after pari-mutuel betting and tribal casinos were both legalized in the state.
Canterbury Downs opened the first pari-mutuel venue in 1985 and still remains one of the few horse tracks in business in MN.
Native American tribal casinos first began to operate in 1981, after the US Court of Appeal allowed them to offer bingo games.
As the ’80s went on, Indian casinos were permitted to eventually offer video gaming machines, which saw more and more venues being built.
In 1989, the state had signed compacts with 7 tribes, and a couple of years later, Indian casinos were allowed to offer table games.
By 1993, there were 17 tribal casinos operating off state soil, raking in an estimated $5 billion in wagers.
Since the tribes were operating on their own land, the casinos did not have to pay the state of Minnesota taxes. This was brought up by MN in the early 2000s, however, the tribes refused to pay any taxes and stick to that decision to this day.
Instead, the majority of the money goes towards construction on the tribe’s land, with some given to the state.
Minnesota Indian Tribes
- Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
- Fond Du Lac Reservation
- Grand Portage Band of Chippewa Indians
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
- Lower Sioux Indian Community
- Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
- Prairie Island Indian Community
- Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
- Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community
- Upper Sioux Community
- White Earth Reservation
Minnesota Gambling Laws and Regulatory Organizations
The following is a list of legal gambling options offered in Minnesota:
- Tribal casino gambling
- Pari-mutuel betting
- Lottery
- Bingo and raffles
Online gambling is not legal at the time of writing but could change soon if the bill in favor of Daily Fantasy Sports is passed.
Those looking to participate in any of the above forms of gambling in MN must be at least 18 years old.
Minnesota Gambling Control Board
The Minnesota Gambling Control Board regulates all charitable gaming in the state.
This includes:
- Bingo
- Raffles
- Tipboards
- Paddlewheels
- Pull-tabs
The National Indian Gaming Commission
The National Indian Gaming Commission regulates all of the tribal casinos in Minnesota, as well as across the country.
You can read more about the IGC and their responsibilities, here.
Gambling in Minnesota Today
Compared to other states, Minnesota has a lot of options for those who want to gamble.
Pari-mutuel betting isn’t nearly as popular as casino gambling, but both are available in the state.
There is also the lottery and charitable games residents can take part in.
If someone is looking to host an event where gambling will take place, the PGCB must be informed to give the license out.
Online players can look forward to the possibility of Daily Fantasy Sports, but it’s unlikely online casinos will be available any time soon.
Fun Facts
Did you know?
Bars in Minnesota are allowed to host games of chance involving dice, as long as they aren’t the organizers or making any money from it. Players can bet on food and drinks, but not real money.
Useful Resources
- Gambling in Minnesota: A Short History
- Minnesota Indian Tribes
- Tribes’ Gaming History Makes It Tough For Newcomers
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For more information on visiting Minnesota casinos, or other tourist attractions, call the state’s office of tourism at (800) 657-3700 or go to www.exploreminnesota.com.