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Pull-tabs are the most popular form of charitable gambling in Minnesota. You will often see them for sale behind a bar or in a dedicated pull-tab booth within a bar. It is played by selling paper or cardboard tickets from a container, some of which will contain winning combinations of symbols (similar to a winning line on a slot machine), most. Minnesota Gambling Laws at a Glance Minnesota has a number of casinos on Indian reservations, many of which offer Las Vegas-style gaming and entertainment. Other than that, the state restricts gambling to charitable games such as pull tabs, bingo, and raffles; the official Minnesota Lottery; pari-mutuel betting on horse races; games of skill (such as darts or billiards); and 'private, social bets.'

April 30th, 2018 | Last updated on November 17th, 2018

Minnesota Online Poker & Gambling Laws
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.

Minnesota Gambling Statutes

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.

Minnesota Gambling & Poker Laws Summarized
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).

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

Minnesota Gambling Statutes

Minnesota Gambling & Poker Laws Summarized

Is Online Poker Legal in Minnesota?

Will Minnesota Regulate Online Poker?

Minnesota State Gambling Rules