If you’re sitting in a booth at a Minneapolis Bar & Grill wondering why you can’t open DraftKings and put twenty bucks on the Vikings, you aren’t alone. It feels like every state around us has figured this out. Iowa? Legal. Wisconsin? Mostly. Even the Dakotas have skin in the game. But here in the North Star State, the screen usually just says "Location Restricted."
Is sports betting legal in MN? The short answer is a flat no.
It’s honestly a bit of a mess. Despite years of back-and-forth in St. Paul, we are officially starting 2026 without a legal framework for mobile or retail sportsbooks. If you want to bet on a game today, you're either driving across the border to Diamond Jo’s in Iowa or using unregulated offshore sites that—frankly—are pretty sketchy when it came to actually paying out.
Why Minnesota is Still the "Island of No"
It’s not for a lack of trying. Every year, someone like Rep. Zack Stephenson or Senator Matt Klein introduces a bill that looks like it’s finally going to cross the finish line. Then, things fall apart.
The 2024 session was a heartbreaker for proponents. They were this close. They had the tribes on board, the professional teams were nodding along, and then the whole thing cratered over—of all things—horse racing tracks and charitable gaming "e-pull tabs." It sounds like small-town politics because it basically is.
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The reality is that Minnesota has 11 federally recognized tribes that run 19 casinos. They aren't just going to let FanDuel walk in and set up shop without making sure tribal sovereignty is protected. They’ve spent decades building a gaming industry that funds their governments. If online betting happens, they want to be the ones holding the keys.
The Sticking Points in 2025 and 2026
When the 2025 legislative session rolled around, everyone expected a "done deal." But the "Minnesota Model" is complicated. You've got three main groups fighting for a seat at the table:
- The Tribes: They want exclusive control over the licenses.
- The Racetracks: Places like Canterbury Park and Running Aces feel they’ll be left in the dust if they don't get a piece of the action.
- The Moral Opponents: Some lawmakers are genuinely worried about the "predatory" nature of gambling apps.
Senator Nick Frentz and others introduced SF 3414 in 2025, but it got stuck in the State and Local Government Committee. Why? Because the tracks and the tribes couldn't agree on "purse reinforcement"—basically, how much money from sports betting goes toward horse racing prizes.
The Gray Area: Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
Here’s where it gets kinda weird. While you can't bet on a point spread, you probably can play on apps like Underdog, PrizePicks, or Sleeper.
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Is DFS legal in Minnesota? Well, it’s not illegal.
Regulators basically treat it as a game of skill. In January 2026, these apps are still wide open. You can pick "More or Less" on Justin Jefferson’s receiving yards, and that’s perfectly fine for now. But even that is under the microscope. There’s a push to regulate DFS under the same umbrella as sports betting once the big bill finally passes.
The Crackdown is Real
If you’ve been using offshore sites like Bovada or BetOnline, be careful. The Minnesota Alcohol and Gaming Enforcement (AGE) division started sending out "cease and desist" letters to over 20 offshore operators recently. They aren't just doing it for fun; they’re trying to clear the "bad actors" out of the way to make room for a regulated market.
Basically, the state is saying: "We want your tax money, but we want it to go through our system, not a server in Costa Rica."
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What to Expect for the Rest of 2026
We’re currently in the middle of the 94th Legislature. There is a lot of talk about a 40% tax rate on net revenue in some of the newer bill drafts, which is pretty high compared to our neighbors. For context, Iowa’s tax rate is barely 6.75%. If Minnesota goes too high with taxes, the sportsbooks might not even want to launch here.
Jeremy Kudon, a major lobbyist for the big sportsbooks, recently mentioned that the "frenzy" has slowed down. Legislators aren't just rushing into this anymore; they’re looking at it as a slow-burn revenue source.
Can You Bet In-Person?
Nope. Not even at the tribal casinos. Places like Mystic Lake or Grand Casino have the space for sportsbooks, but they can’t legally take a bet on the NFL or MLB until the state compacts are updated.
Practical Next Steps for Minnesotans
If you're tired of waiting and want to know what your actual options are right now, here’s the ground truth:
- Stop using offshore sites. Seriously. Minnesota’s Attorney General is actively targeting these platforms. If the site gets blocked, your balance might just vanish.
- Stick to DFS for now. Apps like Underdog Fantasy or DraftKings (Daily Fantasy) are currently the only "legal-ish" way to have skin in the game without leaving your couch.
- The "Border Run" is still king. If you absolutely need to place a wager on a futures bet (like the Twins winning the World Series), a quick drive to Northwood, Iowa, is your best bet. Once you cross the border, your phone’s GPS will unlock the legal apps.
- Watch the "Purse Reinforcement" debate. It sounds boring, but that’s the secret key. When you see news that the horse tracks and the tribes have made a deal on revenue sharing, that’s when you’ll know sports betting is finally coming to MN.
The 2026 legislative session is the best hope we've had in a while. With the state looking to shore up budget gaps and the crackdown on illegal sites intensifying, the pressure to pass a bill is at an all-time high. Until then, keep your GPS off and your expectations in check.
Check the Minnesota Revisor’s Office website for updates on SF 978 and SF 3414 to see if those bills have moved out of committee.