As of late 2025, Minnesota still does not have legal online or retail sportsbooks. Multiple 2025 bills (including the Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0 and SB 3414) stalled in the Legislature, so there are no state‑licensed sports betting apps or retail books operating in MN.

You can legally:

• Bet on horse racing (on‑track and via licensed online racebooks)
• Trade on prediction markets like Novig which are not sportsbooks, allowing them to operate legally in most states with a wider range of trades available
• Play Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) on major platforms

Below is what’s allowed today, what’s not, and how the latest bills tried (and failed) to legalize sports betting.

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Where Minnesota sports-betting legislation stands (2025)

Minnesota has been trying to get a deal done since 2019. In 2025, there were a few headline attempts:

1. Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0 (SF 1124)

• Sponsor: Sen. Jeremy Miller
• Core idea: Mobile and retail sports betting controlled by the state’s 11 federally recognized tribes
• Key pieces (high level):
  
  • Up to 11 licenses, effectively one per tribe
  • Statewide mobile betting with tribal control
  • Tax on sports‑betting revenue (around the high‑teens/20% range in drafts)
  • Dedicated funding for responsible gambling, mental health services, charitable gambling tax relief, and major‑event recruitment

2. SB 3414 - Mobile sports betting + DFS with strict ad rules

• Sponsor: Sen. Nick Frentz
• What it aimed to do:
  
  • Legalize mobile sports betting and fantasy contests for adults 21+
  • Still tie the market closely to tribal control
  • Add unusually strict marketing rules, including a proposed ban on push notifications from betting apps
• Fiscal note: State analysts projected tens of millions per year in tax revenue once the market matured, with specific carve‑outs for problem‑gambling programs and agency enforcement.

3. What happened in 2025

• The main 2025 sportsbetting bill stalled in its first committee hearing.
• A separate proposal just to study sports betting also failed.
• The Legislature adjourned its 2025 regular session without legalizing sports betting or even approving a study bill.

Summary: 2025 ended with no sportsbetting law on the books, despite strong expectations going into the year.

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What You Can Do in Minnesota? (today)

• Horse racing: Bet on live and simulcast races at Canterbury Park and Running Aces, or through licensed online racebook / ADW apps that accept MN customers.
• Prediction Markets (i.e. Novig): Trade sports outcomes peer-to-peer with no house or commissions; available in most states and typically offers better odds than traditional sportsbooks since you play directly against other real users.
• Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS): Pick’em, drafts, best ball, and salary-cap contests on major DFS platforms; typically 18+ in MN (confirm each app’s Terms).  

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The Best Options to Play in Minnesota (2025)

1) Novig (Prediction Market) - our top legal alternative in MN

What it is: A sports prediction market where users can trade on outcomes directly against other fans instead of betting against the house on a traditional sportsbook (think 'markets' vs. house-set lines).  No sportsbook margins; no commissions on trades - so users get the best odds every time.

Why it’s different:

• No vig: Because Novig runs as a market, you see tight, competitive prices instead of a fixed -110 wall on every spread/total. That’s huge if you’re trading alt spreads, totals, and ladders over a full NFL season.
• Depth: Wide range of outcomes from game results to micro moments and player/stat markets.
• Low friction: Simple on‑ramp, transparent rules, and fast payouts (per operator terms).

Popular Minnesota use cases:

• Game markets across major sports like the NFL, professional basketball, MLB, Professional Hockey, soccer, and more.
• Player outcomes (e.g., “Will the QB hit 275+ passing yards?”) as dynamic markets.
• Event/futures (e.g., “Will Dallas make the playoffs?”) as tradable contracts.

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2) DFS platforms (examples)

Underdog, Sleeper, Prizepicks and others offer pick’em, best ball, and salary cap contests.

Tips for DFS in MN:

• Confirm contest rules (pick’em vs. drafts vs. salary cap).
• Check payout timelines and promotions.
• Enable responsible play tools (deposit limits, timeouts).

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Realistically, when could Minnesota traditional sportsbooks launch?

There is no official launch date, because there is no law yet. 

Most recent coverage points to:

• Another push in the 2026 legislative session
• A likely structure that keeps tribes in the driver’s seat and continues to wrestle with how (or whether) to include racetracks like Canterbury Park and Running Aces

Even if a bill passed in 2026, regulators would still need time for rulemaking, licensing, and tech approvals. Practically speaking, that points to 2026+ at the earliest for true sportsbooks to go live - and only if lawmakers actually get a bill across the finish line. 

For now, Minnesota remains in the “no legal sportsbooks” bucket alongside a handful of other holdout states. 

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FAQs

Is sports betting legal in Minnesota?

No. There are no licensed online or retail sportsbooks operating in the state.

Is Novig legal in Minnesota?

Yes - as a prediction market (not a licensed sportsbook). Always review Novig’s in-app eligibility and Terms.  

Are DFS apps legal in Minnesota?

DFS is generally offered, but Minnesota regulators targeted certain “pick’em vs. the house” formats in 2024. Check each app’s current rules/availability before playing.  

When will MN get real sportsbooks?

There’s no set date. The earliest realistic scenario is a successful bill in a future session (likely 2026 or later), followed by a 6-12+ month setup period before any apps or retail books go live.