One thing we love up here in the frozen state of Minnesota is our sports teams. Whether we’re pulling for the Vikings, the Twins or the Timberwolves, we’re going to cheer our brains out. Luckily, the cold keeps them from running out of our noses.
Given our passion, it’s no surprise we want to bet on our favorite teams. A lot of us just don’t have the right information to do it. We made this page to help finally clear up the legal questions surrounding sports betting for residents of Minnesota, and to help us out with finding some of the best legal online sportsbooks for Minnesota residents.
We’re sure we know our stuff, so if you’re interested in sports betting, we think you should read on and find the best ways for you to take part!
Read More: Is It Legal To Gamble Online In Minnesota?
The first thing everyone who logs into sports betting sites that accept Minnesota players wants to know is whether or not they can get in trouble for doing it. The good news is that they can’t. While both the federal government and the state government right here in Minnesota have a lot of scary language involving legal gambling in Minnesota including penalties like fines and prison time, none of it actually applies to betting on sports, only in facilitating these bets.
This means that otherwise honest Minnesota players will not attract any unwanted legal attention just for betting on sports, and that only those who set up sports betting rings can get in any legal hot water. So, what good does it do those of us in Minnesota who want to bet on sports legally if anyone who can take our bet is breaking the law?
This is where the magic in the internet comes in. Through our home computers or mobile devices, we can reach out to places all across the world, even countries where sports betting is legal. That’s right, since Minnesota residents can’t get in trouble for betting on sports, they can use the internet to bet with offshore sportsbooks operating in territories where sports betting is legal.
Just because we have a lot of legal online sportsbooks that accept Minnesota residents to choose from doesn’t mean they all give you the same great deal. Of course, the first thing you always want to ensure about your new sports betting site is that it’s a safe place to put your money. What’s the best way to verify that? Longevity usually works. All of the sites we list on this page have been in operation for well over a decade, and in that time they have amassed a long list of regular customers, endorsements from major media giants, and licenses from reputable international gaming commissions. The safest bet you can make is on these sites, as reputations like these are not earned easily or overnight.
Billionaire lifestyles are a wonderful thing. You get to jet set around the world and party with other rich and famous people, and most of all, you get to watch your empire grow. No one knows this better than Calvin Ayre, creator of the Bovada network that has not only revolutionized the online sports betting industry but also created a company that has become synonymous with the very act of betting on sports online.
This supreme sports betting site for Minnesota players features some of the most thorough betting lines and propositions you’ll find in the entire world, and the site even offers great features for customizing your bet so that you may hit the perfect marriage of risk and reward. Turn any combination of bets or even future props into parlays, round robins, teasers or pleasers to get the most dime for your sports knowledge, or simply use Bovada’s option to bet on the spread of the straight up odds to keep life more simple. Whatever your betting style, if you join Bovada, you’ll have found the perfect home.
It’s hard to believe it, but SportsBetting, with their reputation for being one of the “new guys” has been in business for over a decade with roots going back to the advent of the internet itself. Even when they were coming out of the gate, this Minnesota sports wagering site learned how to keep pace with the big boys fast. No sportsbook releases their odds faster just as no other sportsbook partners with ESPN when it comes time to report betting odds. SportsBetting members know they’re getting the best game lines in the business.
If you don’t believe us, you don’t need to take our word for how fantastic this sports betting site is – you can check it out for yourself. For a limited time, whenever new members sign up, they will receive 75% of their deposit back in the form of bonus money. With this deal, you can collect up to $1,000 in free money! Use this to explore the sportsbook at your leisure without putting any of your actual money at risk.
| Sportsbook | Bonus | Minnesota Welcome? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Sportsbook | 100% Up To $250 First Deposit | Yes | Visit |
| SportsBetting | 75% MatchUp To $1,000 | Yes | Visit |
| BetOnline Sportsbook | $2,500 On All Deposits - 50% | Yes | Visit |
| 5Dimes Sportsbook | 50% To $200 Then 20% To $500 | Yes | Visit |
Unfortunately, once the Federal government passed the PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) they eliminated all possibility of Minnesota ever sanctioning sports betting. While we aren’t naïve enough to tell you that it’s impossible to find land based sportsbooks in Minnesota, we will tell you that associating with them is a bad idea. You see, by nature, land-based sports betting in Minnesota is a criminal enterprise. This makes for a very poor investment of your hard-earned money, and helps explain why legal online sportsbooks that accept Minnesota players are so popular.
We have learned that it’s possible to bet on sports in Minnesota with no legal attention whatsoever. This should be welcome news to all sports fans in the state, but there is one way to turn this whole law on its head: betting underage. In Minnesota, the legal betting age is 18 years old. With such a generous betting age compared to most states who make you wait until you’re 21, there should be no rush to bet underage. If you do, Minnesota will hit you with a steep fine and force you into some community service, and not the kind that looks good on college applications!
Despite popular belief, it’s actually legal and safe to bet on sports in Minnesota so long as each players just follows some key rules of thumb. The first is not to get involved in bookmaking, and the second is to be meticulous when selecting the sports betting site that’s the best fit for you. As long as you hit on all these areas, you should be in ship shape!