Minnesota Online Poker - legal & legit MN poker sites in 2023

Can I play online poker in Minnesota? The answer is yes!

Is it legal to play online poker in Minnesota? The answer to this is also yes!

Minnesota still has a long way to go to get regulated online poker in the state. Minnesota is actually much more liberal than most people think, and it has been open to many ideas in the past. With an affluent population that needs to spend a lot of time inside from the cold, real-money online poker in Minnesota seems like a good idea. Luckily, offshore sites service Minnesotans right now, so you can play card games on the internet notwithstanding the fact that there are no state-regulated sites. All of the best US-facing online sites allow citizens of the state of Minnesota to participate, and that means a lot of great opportunities for those in the state. Below is a list of all the premier Minnestora online poker sites that are available and the promotions they offer!

There are quite a few poker rooms online for Minnesotans to play at, but they're not all trustworthy. We've done the legwork to determine which ones have stellar software, fair RNGs, and speedy payouts. Set your mind at ease, and know that whichever of the below sites you join, you'll be in good hands.

1

IGNITION

BONUS:

150% up to $1,500

★★★★★

4.5 / 5

BEST MN ONLINE POKER SITE WITH THE MOST TRAFFIC

NETWORK:

PAIWANGLUO

EXTRAS

CASINO

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With the largest poker room open to Minnesota citizens, Ignition won't leave you waiting for a table to start. Players can enjoy numerous cash game types at Ignition including NL Hold'em, PLO, and PLO/8 featuring blinds up to $10/$20. Fast-fold Zone Poker, sit-and-gos, randomized Jackpot SNGs, and a wide array of multi-table tournaments are also available. The Monthly Milly is a monthly, recurring event with a prize pool of at least $1 million! All play at Ignition is anonymous to encourage and protect recreational players.

The Ignition Poker software is available for download on any Windows or Mac desktop. Players who wish to utilize other hardware can access an instant play version of the poker software which is compatible with virtually any tablet, computer, or mobile device. You can receive a 100% poker bonus of up to $1,000 when you make your first deposit (Bitcoin depositors are eligible to receive 150% up to $1,500). Another $1,000 deposit bonus is on offer at the attached casino as well.

VISIT IGNITION POKER NOW

2

SB POKER

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.4 / 5

BEST MN ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BAD BEAT JACKPOT

NETWORK:

CHICO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

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SB Poker is the third-largest poker room available to Americans. SB Poker offers an impressive array of cash games including NL Hold'em, PLO, and PLO/8. Blinds go up to $5/$10 at the NL Hold'em tables. SB Poker also features the largest Bad Beat Jackpot available for U.S. players, occasionally reaching heights of $1 million! Fast-fold Boost Poker, multi-table tournaments, sit-and-gos, and lotto-style Windfall Poker are also available.

The SB Poker software is available for download on any Windows or Mac device. Mobile players can also download an excellent mobile version of the software for iOS and Android devices. You can receive a poker bonus of 100% up to $1,000 on your first deposit. Additional promotions are available in the attached casino and sportsbook.

VISIT SB POKER NOW

3

BETONLINE

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.3 / 5

BEST MN POKER SITE FOR MOBILE SOFTWARE

NETWORK:

CHICO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

MORE INFO

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Of the numerous internet poker sites that offer a mobile poker solution, BetOnline has and most well-rounded mobile client, and it supports Android and iOS smartphones. The user interface is intuitive, the games on offer are varied, and the graphics impress. BOL is a sister of SB Poker, therefore the poker formats on offer are virtually identical. BetOnline also offers a full array of casino gaming and a world-class sportsbook.

While BetOnline offers a superb mobile application, you can still play on a computer (PC or Mac) if you prefer. Upon completing your initial deposit, you'll get a poker bonus of 100% up to a maximum of $1,000.

VISIT BETONLINE NOW

4

BOVADA

BONUS:

100% up to $500

★★★★★

4.2 / 5

BEST MN ONLINE POKER SITE FOR SPORTS & CASINO

NETWORK:

PAIWANGLUO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

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Bovada is a sister site of Ignition on the Pai Wang Luo poker network. Therefore, the player pool is shared across the two sites and the poker offerings are virtually identical. What separates Bovada is that it allows you to wager on numerous sporting events and horse races, options that Ignition lacks. Even betting on television programs, eSports, and politics is offered in addition to regular sporting options, like NFL football, NCAA athletics, NBA basketball, and MLB baseball.

Bovada Poker is downloadable on any PC or Mac system. Users who wish to utilize other hardware can take advantage of an instant-play version to access the poker action from any modern computer, tablet, or mobile device. Visit Bovada today and you'll get a poker bonus worth 100% of your first deposit up to a maximum of $500. Crypto depositors get significantly larger bonuses.

VISIT BOVADA NOW

5

AMERICAS CARDROOM

BONUS:

100% up to $2,000

★★★★★

4.1 / 5

BEST MN ONLINE POKER SITE WITH FREE BANKROLL OFFER

NETWORK:

WINNING

FREE

$10

MORE INFO

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Americas Cardroom is the flagship poker room on the Winning Poker Network, the second-largest room available to U.S. players. ACR features a wide range of cash games across many buy-in levels. Notably, ACR offers $0.01/$0.02 cash game tables as well as numerous freeroll tournaments if you wish to build your bankroll from zero. High-stakes nosebleed cash games are also available. You can also choose from an extensive variety of multi-table tournaments, perhaps the best selection of tournaments for U.S. players.

The Americas Cardroom poker client is available to download on any Mac or Windows desktop. Mobile users can access a limited mobile version, but many game types are absent, unfortunately. Use our exclusive ACR bonus code PRB10FREE to receive a $10 no deposit bonus. Upon completing your first deposit, you can also get a 100% bonus of up to $2,000.

VISIT AMERICAS CARDROOM NOW

6

COIN POKER

BONUS:

100% up to $700

★★★★★

4.0 / 5

BEST MN ONLINE POKER SITE FOR CRYPTO GAMES

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

33% RAKEBACK

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CoinPoker boasts the greatest number of active players out of the many online crypto-only poker sites. The site has achieved steady and continued growth due to its unique and high-quality poker offerings. Multiple poker formats are available here including NL Hold'em, PL Omaha, 5 Card Omaha, and Open Face Chinese. Weekly and monthly leaderboards for both SNGs and ring games can put some extra funds into your bankroll.

The CoinPoker software runs seamlessly on any Mac, PC, Android, or iOS device. CoinPoker boasts three deposit bonuses for new players comprising a 100% bonus worth up to $700, a 100% bonus worth up to $300, and a 100% bonus worth up to $100. You can also earn 33% rakeback, issued weekly, as long as you maintain a balance of the CHP crypto token.

VISIT COIN POKER NOW

7

EVERYGAME

BONUS:

200% up to $1,000

★★★★★

3.9 / 5

BEST MN ONLINE POKER SITE FOR RAKEBACK

NETWORK:

HORIZON

EXTRAS

CASINOS, SPORTSBOOK

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Everygame may not feature the player traffic and liquidity of some of its competitors, but where Everygame impresses is with its excellent promotional offerings. 36% rakeback is standard with rakeback payments being issued daily. Other valuable promos include rake races, frequent reload bonuses, overlay tournaments, and a VIP rewards program for high-volume grinders.

The Everygame Poker client is available on Windows devices but those using other hardware can utilize an instant play interface to enjoy poker through any modern browser. The poker bonus is 200% of your first deposit up to $1,000 + 25 free slot spins, and additional bonuses in the attached casinos and sportsbook.

VISIT EVERYGAME NOW

8

SWCPOKER

BONUS:

NONE

★★★★★

3.7 / 5

BEST MN ONLINE SITE FOR UNIQUE POKER VARIANTS

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

FREEROLLS

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SwCPoker is a cryptocurrency-focused poker site that was originally know known as Seals with Clubs. SwC is well known for offering an extensive variety of poker variants. Some of the games offered here include Stud, Open Face Chinese, Draw games, Razz, and Mixed Games. If you are unfamiliar with any of these variants, you can play in numerous freerolls for a free learning opportunity.

SwCPoker offers software for PC, Mac, Android, and iOS systems. No initial deposit bonus is on offer, but you'll earn up to 50% rakeback on your poker play via the Krill rewards system.

VISIT SWCPOKER

9

NITROBETTING

BONUS:

100% up to 25 mBTC

★★★★★

3.4 / 5

BEST MN ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BITCOIN USERS

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

Nitrobetting is a Bitcoin-only poker site that offers a decent selection of cash game formats including NL Hold'em, PL Omaha, Crazy Hold'em, and 6+ Hold'em. Sit and gos and multi-table tournaments are also present here, but most traffic is concentrated in the cash games. Freerolls run on a weekly basis to benefit regular players who play enough volume.

The Nitrobetting poker client runs in any web browser, meaning that it functions on almost every kind of modern hardware, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. New players can redeem a poker bonus worth 100% up to 25 mBTC. Visit the attached casino and sportsbook to benefit from additional deposit bonuses.

VISIT NITROBETTING NOW

How to Choose the Best Minnesota Poker Site For Your Style of Play

All of the poker companies described above are fine suppliers of online poker to Minnesotans, and you can't really go wrong no matter which of them you choose. There's no single one of them that's best for all individuals, so you'll have to think carefully about your own priorities and habits when selecting among them. It would be impossible for us to point you directly toward the poker provider that's right for you, so we won't attempt to do so. What we are willing to do is offer you a list of matters to ponder while you're making your decision.

How Do I Receive Withdrawals and Payments?

Funding your poker accounts and receiving your winnings present no problems at all when you opt to play at one of the sites we recommend. Deposit methods include credit cards and money transfer services, and you can request a check when you're ready to cash out. However, these processors are a bit slow, and some of them charge hefty fees. You can avoid these issues by banking in Bitcoin, a digital currency that has been in the headlines over the past few years. If you're unfamiliar with it, then it might be prudent to pore over our guide to using Bitcoin for internet poker.

Alternatives to Registering Your Account in the State of Minnesota

Players who are lucky enough to have another address in a nearby state, be it your business address, summer home, second apartment, family home, etc, may have other online poker options available to them. Here is a list of the states that border Minnesota and Professional Rakeback's review on each of them: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. For a more generalized rundown of U.S. poker in all 50 states, examine our guide for American online poker players.

Ignorance is rife regarding the subject of online poker, but you can do something about this sad state of affairs. Please think about sharing this page with people you know who are fans of poker but may not have accurate information on the game as played online in the United States.

Facts About Minnesota Poker Industry

The section below aims to address the legality of playing online poker, live gambling options, current and potential state regulation, and the history involving poker and gambling within the state of Minnesota.

The Legality of Playing Online Poker in Minnesota

The portion of the Minnnesota Statutes dealing with gambling is fairly straightforward at least in terms of being easy to find. As we'll see shortly, the way these paragraphs are worded does leave some uncertainty as to what they actually mean. The codes dealing with real money wagering are contained in 609.75 and the following sections. The main law proscribing gambling is 609.755:

Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a misdemeanor:
(1) makes a bet;
(2) sells or transfers a chance to participate in a lottery;
(3) disseminates information about a lottery, except a lottery conducted by an adjoining state, with intent to encourage participation therein;
(4) permits a structure or location owned or occupied by the actor or under the actor's control to be used as a gambling place; or
(5) except where authorized by statute, possesses a gambling device.
Clause (5) does not prohibit possession of a gambling device in a person's dwelling for amusement purposes in a manner that does not afford players an opportunity to obtain anything of value.

Poker might be included in (1) depending on how the state defines a “bet.” Fortunately, there are a series of definitions in 609.75 where we encounter:

Subd. 2.Bet. A bet is 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.

Even if chance is “accompanied by some element of skill,” the transaction is still considered a bet. This may appear bad for poker, both live and online, but then in the following list of things that are exempted from being considered a bet, we find:

(3) offers of purses, prizes or premiums to the actual contestants in any bona fide contest for the determination of skill, speed, strength, endurance, or quality or to the bona fide owners of animals or other property entered in such a contest;

Whether or not poker is a “contest for the determination of skill” is open to debate. An authoritative voice in this discussion is federal judge Jack B. Weinstein, who opined in 2012 that poker was indeed a game in which skill plays the predominant role. The Poker Players Alliance has produced a paper further buttressing this line of reasoning. We, of course, have no special insight as to how the Minnesota authorities view the matter, but given the fact that the law could be interpreted in more than one way, we're of the opinion that they'd rather take a hands-off approach when it comes to individuals competing privately in online card games.

The history of law enforcement activities in MN bears out this view. Anyone found guilty of violating 609.755 is subject to the penalties attached to misdemeanors, which are a fine of up to $1,000 and/or a jail sentence of up to 90 days. But we haven't found any cases of any player being brought up on charges, much less convicted, for participating in internet-based poker. Realistically, there's zero chance of you being legally prosecuted for playing online poker in Minnesota.

It's a different story for those actually trying to run an illicit gambling game within the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Maintaining a gambling place, participating in the income of a gambling place, conducting a lottery, bookmaking, and several other crimes are either gross misdemeanors or felonies.

Minnesota actually tried to go after offshore real money gaming sites in 2009, requesting that ISPs block their web domains. However, this action was fought by the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association. Faced with opposition and increasing public scrutiny, officials opted to abandon their efforts. Today, most internet poker operators feel they have nothing to fear from the state, and they have undoubtedly been instructed so by their professional counsel. Hardly any of them that serve the United States have abandoned the Minnesotan market.

You might be curious to know that Minnesota actually has a law governing home poker games. They're more or less allowed subject to certain restrictions. The details are spelled out in 609.761 - Operations Permitted:

Subd. 3.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.

This business about accommodations for people with disabilities seems odd because nobody would invite someone with such an impairment to participate in a social game unless provisions were made to assist them. Another weird thing about this law is that poker games other than Texas Hold'em appear to be disallowed. Regardless of these curious points, home game poker is given a protected spot in the Minnesota legal statutes.

The legal structure of Minnesota contains entire sections devoted to the types of gaming that are explicitly licensed and regulated. These include charitable bingo and raffles, pari-mutuel horse racing wagering, and the state lottery. Tribal casinos are governed by compacts negotiated with each tribe rather than being subject to MN state law.

Land-Based Gambling

Minnesota is home to a whole host of gambling that includes more or less everything except commercial casinos. This means that Minnesota has tribal gaming, pari-mutuel horse track betting, charitable gambling, and a full state lottery for citizens to choose from. The tribal casinos are pretty much the same as any normal casinos in other states and offer a pretty extensive collection of games for people to choose from, including poker. The racetracks in Minnesota also have poker rooms, and they're an order of magnitude larger than those in the casinos. Canterbury Park in Shakopee has the largest number of tables with 32 of them that deal Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi/Lo, and Seven Card Stud. There are daily, small-stakes tournaments as well.

State Regulation

The Gopher State does have a lively brick-and-mortar gambling scene with its native casinos and “racinos,” but this hasn't translated into any particular support for licensed online poker. There haven't been any pieces of legislation introduced that would add this form of gaming to the roster of legally authorized activities, and there are no immediate prospects of any such bills appearing. The state has flirted with internet gambling before when the Minnesota Lottery introduced online ticket sales, but the Minnesota Legislature took a dim view of this and demanded that the Lottery stop. The authorities have made a few harsh pronouncements against betting for money over the internet in the past, so there's not likely to be much help from that quarter. We must also consider that the tribal casinos would have a large say in whether or not state-regulated internet poker would be welcome in the state, and most tribes have come out against it. We feel that legalized online poker is many years away from becoming a reality in Minnesota.

Minnesota's Gambling History

Even before Minnesota became a state, it took a hard line on gambling. The territorial legislature passed laws against it in 1851, and a ban on lotteries was enshrined in the original state constitution of 1858. Under the legal interpretations in effect at the time, any type of gambling was considered a lottery, and this is the way the language has been viewed since then. The Mississippi River does originate in northern Minnesota, and so there were a few riverboat gambling opportunities but nothing comparable in scope to what was available further south. Anyway, by the 1850s, the riverborne gambling facilities were but a shadow of what they had been a few decades prior. Apart from the occasional illicit gambling saloon, Minnesotans didn't really have many opportunities to place wagers.

John O'Connor
St. Paul Police Chief
1900 - 1920

This changed during the Prohibition era. The ground was cleared in 1900 by St. Paul Chief of Police John O'Connor. Under his infamous layover agreement, criminals could stay in the city free from worry about getting arrested as long as they checked in with the police upon their arrival, handed over a portion of their criminal proceeds, and refrained from committing any crimes within the city limits. The system lasted for nearly four decades, and St. Paul became infested by bootleggers and other organized crime figures, some of whom even relocated their headquarters there. Although St. Paul itself remained relatively clean, illegal gambling dens popped up throughout much of the surrounding area of Minnesota. John Dillinger, Al Capone, and Bonnie and Clyde were some of the notorious “guests” who spent some time in St. Paul during this era. The FBI got involved, however, and this arrangement between lawmen and crooks broke down in the middle of the '30s.

In 1945, the state made its first move to authorize gambling by permitting charitable bingo in some circumstances. There was another form of gambling that was growing in popularity though: slot machines. Minnesota's lake resorts were remote from cities (and the prying eyes of the law), and they enticed tourists eager for a getaway from their busy everyday lives. Many proprietors decided to boost their revenues through slots, and the local police often overlooked these infractions. Reformist governor Luther Youngdahl targeted these establishments, and he was mostly successful in eliminating slots from the state through a 1947 law that revoked all the licenses, including liquor licenses, from those who possessed gambling devices.

In 1963, private social gaming was allowed for the first time, and during the '70s, additional forms of charitable gaming besides bingo were added to the menu of permitted activities. It was the '80s that would see an explosion of real money gambling within the North Star State. In 1982, a referendum passed in favor of pari-mutuel horse betting, and the Canterbury Downs track opened in 1985. Another referendum in 1988 approved of the Minnesota Lottery, which duly began operating shortly thereafter. The state signed compacts for tribal gaming with local groups in 1989. In 1999, live cardrooms were added to the state's racetracks, which also meant that it was OK for tribal casinos to offer poker as well.

In summation of the historical events above, we have prepared a detailed visual timeline, covering every gambling and poker-related event to occur within the state of Minnesota. The completed timeline can be found below.

Other Types of Online Gambling

As we have discussed, there are numerous options for online poker in Minnesota, but there are also other types of online gambling including slots, table games, and sports betting available online. Our team of experts has scoured the web, putting our own money on the line in order to determine the best available options. Below, we will provide our best recommendations for online casinos and sportsbooks

Online Casinos

Minnesota has no shortage of land-based casinos, but there are no internet casinos that are regulated by the state. Nevertheless, online casinos located offshore exist, and they provide arguably a better gaming experience than live, land-based locations do. After all, you don't need to leave your house or wait for your favorite machine to become available in order to play over the internet.

Our extensive research has allowed us to identify three reliable online casinos that are available to Minnesotans.

1. Cafe Casino - Exclusive Bitcoin Bonus: 350% up to $5,000

2. Wild Casino - Bonuses on Your 1st 5 Deposits for up to $9,000 Total

3. Ignition Casino - Crypto Bonus of 150% up to $1,500 (100% up to $1,000 for non-crypto deposits)

There are additional venues for you to engage in casino gaming over the internet, and you can learn more about them with this list of trusted casino websites.

Online Sportsbooks

Despite a flurry of legislation introduced in the past few years, licensed sports betting is not yet a reality in Minnesota. Thus, you'll have to log on to the website of an international online bookmaker if you're interested in wagering on the outcomes of sports events.

There's quite an extensive list of sites that you can bet at, but we have taken the liberty of highlighting three of the best ones below.

1. Bovada Sports - 1st Deposit Bonus of 75% up to $750 With Crypto

2. Sportsbetting.ag - Crypto-Currency Bonus of 100% up to $1,000

3. Everygame Sports - Get a $250 Bonus on Your First Three Deposits

You can find out more about other options for sports betting with this page devoted to online sportsbooks for USA bettors.

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We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!