Minnesota Online Sports Betting Guide 2024

If you’ve been searching for sportsbooks in MN, you might be wondering why you’ve come up short so far. Is sports betting legal in Minnesota?

In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about Minnesota sports betting laws, the available options, and what to expect from the local sports betting scene.

By the end of this guide, you’ll be 100% clear on Minnesota’s approach to online sports betting – so, let’s start with some key takeaways.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Find out what sports betting apps are legal in Minnesota.
• Learn more about mobile sports betting in Minnesota.
• Discover other ways to bet in Minnesota.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Minnesota?

Generally, online sports betting isn’t legal in Minnesota. In fact, MN is one of several states in the US where you can’t bet on sports either online or in person at retail sportsbooks. You can take a look at other states that have legalized betting in our guide.

Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety goes into detail about what actually constitutes a bet under state law. It’s quite a lengthy guide! It’s safe to assume that most bets are illegal in MN by default – but more on this later.

Interestingly, one of the few sports you can actually wager on in Minnesota is horse racing. Again, more on this a little further down.

There have been many attempts to make gambling on sports legal across Minnesota. Legislation attempts with a Minnesota sports betting bill failed as recently as May 2024, when moves to try to grant sports betting licenses to local tribes were also put forward. Unfortunately, a consensus couldn’t be reached.

There might not be a Minnesota sports betting launch now until at least 2025 – and even then, this is just speculation!

Our Alternative to Online Sportsbooks in Minnesota: Sweepstakes Bookmakers

Can you use sports betting apps in Minnesota? No – but you can play at sweeps and social betting sites! In fact, sports sweepstakes sites offer a legal way for you to wager on events without spending real money. We recommend Fliff and Rebet.

Fliff

Fliff has quickly become one of the most popular non-cash betting sites across the US. Its app is intuitive, quick to load, and, best of all, you can use it in Minnesota without worrying about breaking state gambling laws. This is because you’re betting on events with virtual tokens – you don’t have to pay any money to take part.

What I like about Fliff is the app’s competitions and leaderboards. Instead of playing to win money, you’re playing to beat other bettors! The app also serves up virtual badges and spot prizes along the way. I think that it’s your best choice for betting in Minnesota, at least until the laws change!

Rebet

Rebet is a great alternative to Fliff that, like the app above, uses a virtual currency. There are ways that you can convert Rebet’s currency into real money. However, tread carefully in case local laws prevent you from doing this.

Rebet has many competitive, social-style betting features where you can set yourself apart as the best sports predictor. If you’re the type of bettor who enjoys competition and isn’t worried about winning real money, then I’d recommend giving Rebet a try.

How to Bet on Sports in Minnesota?

Unless you’re betting via social or sweeps sportsbooks, Minnesota sports betting laws prevent you from placing most wagers in the state. Because sports betting is generally banned in person, we don’t have a Minnesota sports betting locations map to share with you.

However, MN’s border states mostly allow some form of sports betting. North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin all allow you to place bets in person. Iowa, in fact, also allows online betting.

Therefore, if you want to place sports bets for real cash, it might be worth traveling to Iowa and registering and playing cross-border! At least, it’s the best option before any Minnesota sports betting sites officially launch.

Popular Sports and Teams in the Minnesota Betting Scene

Given that Minnesota doesn’t have a sports betting scene to speak of, you might think that the state is low on sporting action, period. This really isn’t the case, though – in fact, there are some big-name sporting brands and teams that play in MN that are usually popular with sweeps bettors.

Baseball

The Minnesota Twins, for example, are a big name in Major League Baseball. They have been based in MN since the early 1960s, and they have won the World Series three times. The last time the Twins won the Series was back in 1991; however, they’re nothing if inconsistent, so a win could be just around the corner!

Football

If you’re into the NFL, then you’ve probably heard of the Minnesota Vikings! The Vikings have been playing pro football since the early 1960s. Although the Vikings are yet to win a Super Bowl, they’ve taken part in the final four times at the time of writing. The team’s heyday in this regard was in the 1970s.

Hockey

Over on the ice, the Minnesota Wild have been playing in the NHL since 2000, just three years after formation. The side took home their first division championship back in the 2007/08 season, and while they are yet to take away a Stanley Cup, they have a passionate fan base. In fact, they’re known as ‘The State of Hockey’!

Basketball

MN also has a healthy presence on the court – with the Minnesota Timberwolves, playing at the Target Center, having been the heart of basketball in the state since 1989. Famous for bringing superstars such as MVP Kevin Garnett to international attention, the T-Wolves continue to challenge in the Northwest Conference.

Soccer

You might have heard of some of these teams before – but what about Minnesota United? MN has a thriving soccer scene – and MNUFC have played in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer since 2017. You’ll often hear the team’s fans joining to sing ‘Wonderwall’ by Oasis after they win matches!

Minnesota’s closeness to states such as Iowa, the Dakotas, and Wisconsin means that there are sometimes overlaps with fans of teams across boundaries. That said, MN is already famous for having a burgeoning sports scene. It likely contributes a significant chunk toward Minnesota’s impressive $22bn state tourism revenue!

The potential for Minnesota sports betting revenue is untapped – but this might change in the years to come!

The Impact of Local Teams on Sports Betting

Given Minnesota’s lack of sports betting laws, it’s unclear whether local teams would have an impact on state revenue. However, the state’s biggest sports teams, such as the Vikings and the Timberwolves, have worldwide appeal!

MN’s big sports teams bring fans from all over the US – not just border states – to watch pro action. Therefore, while there are no specific statistics to show MN’s effects on national betting, you can be sure that the sports talent here does plenty to boost sportsbook interest elsewhere.

Upcoming Events

Do you want to keep track of the latest Minnesota sports betting news? Whether you’re waiting for a Minnesota sports betting update so that you can wager legally in the state, or you just want to follow MN teams, bookmark this page and come back later for breaking news.

Are There More Gambling Options in Minnesota?

Don’t let the lack of Minnesota sports betting legislation get you down. There are at least two legal ways to wager for money in Minnesota.

Horse Racing

Horse racing remains the only sport you can bet on in Minnesota! Oddly enough, you can bet on races at physical casinos such as the Running Aces Casino, where there’s a track, and on sportsbooks such as FanDuel.

However, take care when registering to place bets in MN at all – and make sure that it’s only for horse racing!

Lottery/Lotto Games

Outside of sports betting, Minnesotans can also play the state lottery. The state’s regular draws are overseen by the Minnesota Lottery, which even has a free app for you to download and buy tickets from.

Maximizing Your Bets

Whether you’re betting through a sweeps site or on horse races, there are a few ways that you can make the most of your credit.

Tips and Strategies for Minnesota Bettors

Regardless of the Minnesota sports betting apps you use to place legal wagers in MN, the number one tip I can offer you is to simply set clear limits and stick to your guns.

Before getting started in any kind of betting, remember that absolutely no wins are guaranteed. Every bet is a risk – which is why you should set clear time and/or financial betting limits before you start. Otherwise, you could end up playing for longer than you intend to, or spending money you can’t afford.

Another tip I can offer if you’re interested in being a smarter bettor is to take time and research the sports and teams you’re betting on! Pick a sport you enjoy and a team or player(s) you follow.

Try to dive deep into statistics. Studying form and previous results can give you extra confidence. By really getting into sports, the bets you make in the future will feel less random and more reasoned – that’s the idea, at least! 

For more tips on wagering in Minnesota, take a look at our guide on how to get better at betting on sports.

Understanding Taxes and Payouts

Although sports betting is largely banned in Minnesota, any profits you make from the state lottery or from horse racing will still be regarded as income in the eyes of the IRS. Therefore, it really does pay to understand paying taxes on sports betting, regardless of where you wager.

According to Minnesota’s Department of Revenue, the amount of taxes you pay on winnings depends on whether you’re an MN resident. Essentially, if you’re a resident, you need to report your winnings as part of your income via form M1.

As a non-resident, you’ll still need to file an M1 form, but only if your winnings exceed the minimum filing amount. You’ll also have to fill out Schedule M1NR, accounting for Nonresidents/Part-Year Residents.

I’d personally advise you to speak with a tax advisor if you’re unsure about how to report your MN gambling winnings with the IRS. They can also help you with the Minnesota sports betting tax rate.

After all, you must get these details correct. If you’re betting and winning in any other state, check out our guide to taxes and payouts linked at the top of this section.

So, Will You Bet from Minnesota Tonight?

Now that you know all about Minnesota sports betting legislation, legal opportunities, and local teams, why not take a look at our recommended sweepstakes sportsbooks above? Use the knowledge we’ve shared here to look for odds in your favorite sports, or at least start looking into MN’s best-loved teams.

When will sports betting be legal in Minnesota? No one knows for certain – but we will let you know when there is an official Minnesota sports betting age set (among other details).

Do you already know how to calculate the best markets and opportunities? Take a look at our complete guide to sports betting odds and get the lowdown on what to expect.