TL;DR: Minnesota still does not have legal online or retail sportsbooks as of 2026, after multiple sports betting bills failed to advance in the 2025 legislative session. While traditional sportsbooks remain illegal, residents can legally bet on horse racing, play Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), and trade sports outcomes on prediction markets like Novig. Lawmakers may try again in 2026, but even if a bill passes, a full sportsbook launch would likely take additional time.

Current Legal Status in Minnesota (2026)

‍As of 2026, Minnesota still does not have legal online or retail sportsbooks. Despite renewed optimism heading into the 2025 legislative session, multiple bills failed to advance, leaving the state without any licensed sports betting apps or retail sportsbooks.

Minnesota residents can legally:

• Bet on horse racing, both on track and through licensed online racebooks
• Trade on prediction markets such as Novig, which are not sportsbooks and operate legally in most states
• Play Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) on major platforms

Below is a breakdown of what’s allowed today, what’s not, and how recent legislative efforts attempted and failed to successfully legalize sports betting.

Where Minnesota sports-betting legislation stands (2025-2026)

Minnesota has been trying to get a deal done since 2019. In 2025, there were a few headline attempts:
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‍1. Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0 (SF 1124)

• Sponsor: Sen. Jeremy Miller
• Core idea: Authorize mobile and retail sports betting under the control of Minnesota’s 11 federally recognized tribes.
• Key components (high level):
  
  • Up to 11 licenses, effectively one per tribe
  • Statewide mobile sports betting with tribal oversight
  • A tax on sports betting revenue, generally modeled in the high-teens to low-20 percent range in draft language
  • Dedicated funding for responsible gambling programs, mental health services, charitable gambling tax relief, and major event recruitment
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2. SB 3414 – Mobile Sports Betting and DFS With Advertising Limits

• Sponsor: Sen. Nick Frentz
• What it aimed to do:
  
  • Legalize mobile sports betting and fantasy contests for adults 21 and over
  • Maintain tight tribal control over the market
  • Impose unusually strict advertising and marketing restrictions, including a proposed ban on push notifications from betting apps
• Fiscal outlook: State analysts projected tens of millions of dollars per year in tax revenue once the market matured, with specific allocations for problem-gambling programs and regulatory enforcement.
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3. What Actually Happened in 2025

• The primary sports betting bill stalled in its first committee hearing
• A separate proposal to study sports betting also failed to advance
• The Legislature adjourned without legalizing sports betting or approving a study bill
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Summary:
The 2025 session ended with no sports betting law on the books, despite strong expectations heading into the year.

What You Can Do in Minnesota? (today)

‍Even without legalized sportsbooks, Minnesota residents still have compliant options.

• Horse racing: Wagering is legal at Canterbury Park and Running Aces, including live racing and simulcast events. Licensed advance-deposit wagering (ADW) apps that accept Minnesota customers are also permitted.
• Prediction markets: Prediction markets such as Novig allow users to trade sports outcomes peer-to-peer rather than betting against a sportsbook. Because pricing is set by the market instead of a house, these platforms often offer tighter pricing and more flexible ways to express an opinion on games, players, or season-long outcomes.
• Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS): DFS contests are generally available in Minnesota, including pick’em formats (where permitted), drafts, best ball, and salary-cap contests. Most DFS platforms allow participation at 18+, though users should confirm each app’s terms.

The Best Options to Play in Minnesota (2026)

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

‍What it is: Novig is a sports prediction market where users trade outcomes directly with other fans instead of betting against a traditional sportsbook. Think open markets rather than house-set lines. There are no sportsbook margins and no commissions on trades, which helps keep pricing competitive.

Why it stands out:

• No vig pricing means users aren’t stuck with standard -110 odds on every spread or total, which can make a meaningful difference over a long season.
• Market depth includes everything from full-game results to player stats, alternate lines, ladders, and in-game moments.
• Low-friction platform, with straightforward onboarding, transparent rules, and fast payouts subject to operator terms.

Popular Minnesota use cases:

• Trading game markets across major sports like NFL, professional basketball, MLB, professional hockey, and soccer.
• Participating in player-based outcomes such as passing yards, scoring milestones, or shot totals.
• Buying and selling futures markets, including playoff appearances or division winners.
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2) DFS platforms (examples)

‍DFS platforms such as Underdog, Sleeper, PrizePicks, and others offer pick’em contests, best ball drafts, and salary-cap formats in Minnesota. Payout structures and scoring rules vary by operator.

DFS tips for Minnesota users:

• Confirm whether a contest is pick’em, draft-based, or salary-cap style.
• Review payout timelines and promotional terms.
• Enable responsible play tools such as deposit limits or time-based restrictions when available.

Realistically, when could Minnesota traditional sportsbooks launch?

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

Most recent coverage and legislative commentary point to:

• Another serious push during the 2026 legislative session
• A likely structure that keeps tribes in primary control of sports betting
• Continued debate over whether and how to include racetracks such as Canterbury Park and Running Aces

Even if lawmakers passed a bill in 2026, regulators would still need time for rulemaking, licensing, and technical approvals. In practice, that would push any real sportsbook launch into late 2026 at the earliest, and more realistically 2027 or later, assuming a bill actually clears the Legislature.

For now, Minnesota remains among the states without legal online or retail sportsbooks.

FAQs

Is sports betting legal in Minnesota?

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

Is Novig legal in Minnesota?

Yes. Novig operates as a prediction market rather than a licensed sportsbook. Availability is subject to in-app eligibility requirements and platform terms.

Are DFS apps legal in Minnesota?

DFS is generally offered, though Minnesota regulators previously scrutinized certain pick’em formats that resembled house-based wagering. Users should confirm current availability and rules for each app.  

When will MN get real sportsbooks?

There is no set date. The earliest realistic scenario would be a successful bill in a future legislative session, likely followed by a 6–12 month setup period before any sportsbooks go live.

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