Playing Online Poker in Minnesota: What You Need to Know

Is online poker legal in Minnesota?

No, online poker is neither legalized nor regulated at the state level in Minnesota. As of 2026, Minnesota has not created a dedicated regulatory framework for real-money online poker, and there is no state-licensed online poker market. Under Minnesota law, a “bet” is defined broadly enough to cover agreements involving the gain or loss of money, property, or another benefit dependent on chance, even where chance is accompanied by some element of skill.

See Minn. Stat. § 609.75, subd. 2. In addition, Minn. Stat. § 609.76 sets out criminal penalties for conduct such as operating a gambling place, participating in the income of an unauthorized gambling operation, or receiving and forwarding bets. In recent years, legislative efforts around gambling in Minnesota have focused mainly on sports betting rather than online casinos or poker.

What does this mean in practice? Minnesota players do not have access to a locally regulated market and therefore miss out on the consumer protections typically associated with licensed operators. There is no official state oversight of online poker, nor any approved framework for licensing online poker platforms. The Minnesota Gambling Control Board regulates “lawful gambling” in the state, but its statutory authority is tied to the lawful gambling framework in Chapter 349 rather than a dedicated licensing system for real-money online poker.

Can sweepstakes poker be considered an alternative?

Yes, sweepstakes poker is often marketed as an alternative to traditional poker rooms in states where real-money online poker is unregulated. The model is different: players purchase virtual currency for entertainment, receive sweepstakes coins as a bonus, and then use them in games with the option to redeem them for prizes. This is why these platforms have long existed separately from traditional poker rooms.

However, sweepstakes poker is hardly a full-fledged replacement for online poker. It operates under a different set of rules, uses a different reward and payout system, and comes with distinct cash-out conditions. On top of that, it usually offers a smaller player pool, fewer game formats, and more limited lobby features. In short, it may look similar on the surface, but it’s not the same product.

There’s also an important caveat for Minnesota players. In 2025, the state Attorney General’s Office classified social sweepstakes casinos and poker platforms among prohibited gambling services subject to enforcement actions. As a result, while sweepstakes poker might seem like a viable workaround in theory, by 2026, its status in Minnesota is far less stable and increasingly subject to scrutiny.

Will Minnesota legalize online poker?

There are no significant developments for 2026. The state still has neither an approved bill nor a clear plan for launching licensed online poker. Discussions about gambling reform in Minnesota are primarily focused on sports betting, not iGaming or poker. Therefore, it's too early to talk about legalizing online poker in the near future.

Where to play online poker in Minnesota

• 

  4.5

  #1

  4.5

  CoinPoker

  Independent

  

  Bonus

  150% up to $2,000

  

  Rakeback

  15%+

  CodeWPD

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Crypto accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details
• 

  4.7

  #2

  4.7

  BetOnline

  Chico Poker Network

  

  Bonus

  100% up to $1,000

  

  Rakeback

  10%+

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Crypto accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details
• 

  4.7

  #3

  4.7

  ACR Poker

  Winning Poker Network

  

  Bonus

  100% up to $2,000

  

  Rakeback

  up to 65%

  CodeWPDVIP

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Crypto accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details
• 

  4.3

  #4

  4.3

  Ignition Casino

  Paiwangluo Poker Network

  

  Bonus

  150% up to $1,500

  

  Rakeback

  Not available

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Crypto accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details
• 

  4.4

  #5

  4.4

  Phenom Poker

  Independent

  

  Bonus

  150% up to $3,000

  

  Rakeback

  up to 40%

  CodeWPD

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Crypto accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details

There are no licensed sites in Minnesota where you can play real money online poker. However, for local players, US-friendly offshore online poker rooms remain the most practical option for playing online. Below, we'll explore the sites best suited for poker players in the state.

BetOnline

BetOnline is the oldest iGaming brand in the U.S., launched in 1999. More than a quarter of a century of continuous operation speaks strongly to the poker room’s reliability. The platform has long-standing experience in providing a safe, comfortable environment for American players, including those from Minnesota.

The BetOnline app offers enough game variety to compete with much larger sites. Its wide range of formats is a major reason the poker room remains popular with recreational players:

• 6- and 9-max Hold'em tables.
• PLO, PLO H/L, PLO5, PLO6.
• Fast-paced Boost Poker.
• Windfall Hold'em and Chinese Poker Spin & Go.
• Classic SnG, including Bomb Pots.
• MTT with guarantees up to $150,000.

For ongoing bonuses, BetOnline Poker provides a classic three-part package: a 100% first-deposit bonus up to $1,000, 10% rakeback through its loyalty program (with the VIP structure subject to change), and rake races across various game types and limits.

CoinPoker

CoinPoker is the world’s largest blockchain-based poker site, which continues to expand its presence in the U.S. market. Its team features well-known players such as John “apestyles” Van Fleet, Ryan DePaulo, and Nikhil Arcot.

The poker room’s game selection grows each year. The most active tables are 6-max Hold’em up to NL500$, with additional action available in heads-up, PLO, PLO5, PLO6, AoF formats. The maximum stakes are 1K/2K₮.

MTT fields on CoinPoker tend to be small — even freerolls rarely exceed 500 entries. Buy-ins span a wide range, from as little as 1 cent to ₮5,200.

The site’s bonuses are especially attractive for grinders. The first deposit bonus delivers an exceptional 33% rakeback, the loyalty program provides another 15% rakeback every day, cashdrops and regular leaderboard races offer additional payouts for top players.

ACR Poker

ACR Poker is the most recognizable online poker site in the United States, represented by poker legend Chris Moneymaker. As part of the Winning Poker Network (WPN), it offers access to some of the highest-stakes cash games and the largest online tournaments available to U.S. players.

Most of the action takes place at limits up to NL1K$, though ACR’s cash lobby also includes $200/$400 tables. Poker formats include:

• Fast Blitz Poker.
• 9-max tables, including exclusive 7-Day No Rathole.
• 4- and 5-card Omaha.
• AoF
• 7 Card Stud.

The poker room offers the best tournament schedule available to U.S. players. Weekly MTT guarantees at least $9.3 million, flagship series reach $50 million, and ACR Poker’s main event, The Venom, starts with $8 million guarantee.

The first-deposit bonus is fairly standard (100% up to $2,000), but the site stands out with two loyalty programs: a fixed 27% rakeback plan, or a progressive rakeback system through Elite Benefits that can reach up to 65%, ideal for high-volume grinders. You can choose the preferred deal during registration.

Our ranking criteria for choosing the best MN online poker sites

Minnesota presents a more complicated picture. Without a regulated online poker market, there’s no official list of licensed operators to choose from. As a result, players often turn to offshore poker sites, which require a more careful and critical evaluation process.

For that reason, we don’t rate sites highly based solely on brand recognition, generous bonuses, or a large game selection. Instead, we focus on what truly matters: reliability, track record, the strength of its reputation, and—most importantly—whether it can be trusted with real-money play.

• Reputation. We don’t include lesser-known sites with no proven track record in our selection. The room should have a clear background, several years of stable operation, and a reputation that can be verified through player reviews and the general reaction of the poker community.
• License. Minnesota does not issue local licenses for online poker, so we focus on whether a site holds an international license and how transparent its operating jurisdiction is. This doesn't answer all questions, but it at least gives a basic understanding of the site's legal status.
• Security and payments. When playing for real money, a simple easy-to-use payment system isn’t enough. We assess account protection measures, verification procedures, payout speed, clarity of terms, and the variety of deposit and withdrawal options. Extra credit goes to platforms that provide a broad selection of methods—not just one or two—including support for cryptocurrencies.
• Traffic and game selection. A good room should be active in practice, not just in theory. We look at whether there's consistent activity at the tables, how many tournaments are held, whether different limits are available, and whether it's generally possible to find a game at a convenient time.
• Bonuses and promotions. We assess the value of welcome bonuses, the frequency and quality of ongoing promotions, and how the rakeback system operates, including the terms required to earn it.

These criteria help us separate the merely noticeable sites from those that are truly worth considering for Minnesota players.

Deposits and payment methods

As there are no licensed online poker sites in Minnesota, players are looking to offshore sites as an alternative. As a result, the range of available payment methods differs from what’s typically offered in regulated markets.

In practice, this means that, alongside cryptocurrency, offshore poker rooms may support bank cards, wire transfers, and certain alternative payment solutions. That said, cryptocurrency often remains the most consistent and reliable option for both deposits and withdrawals. The availability of other methods can vary depending on the operator, as well as the policies of banks and payment providers.

Depending on the platform, these options may include:

• Cryptocurrencies – Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and other digital assets.
• Bank cards – usually debit, less often credit.
• Bank transfers.
• Alternative payment services and individual e-wallets/prepaid solutions, if supported by a specific website.

Live poker in Minnesota

While online poker in Minnesota remains a complicated landscape, live poker is firmly established and regulated. The primary hubs are Canterbury Park and Running Aces in the Twin Cities area, where most of the action takes place, including regular cash games and the state’s largest tournament events.

Other poker rooms are smaller in comparison, but still active. Venues like Treasure Island and Fortune Bay cater more to local players, focusing on cash games, promotions, and smaller seasonal tournaments rather than major series. This setup reflects the broader picture in Minnesota: a solid live poker scene built around several reliable venues rather than a wide network of rooms.

Best poker players from Minnesota

Minnesota All-Time Money List:

1. Blake Bohn — $ 4,2M+
2. Ryan Laplante — $3,7M+
3. Rajaee Wazwaz — $ 3,1M+
4. Anthony Hu — $ 3,1M+
5. Kou Vang — 2,78M+

Blake Bohn is a classic example of an American live-poker regular player. He has been playing tournaments across the United States for more than two decades.

His breakthrough came in 2013 when he won the Chicago Poker Classic Championship Series for $288,171, still the largest victory of his career.

That same year, he became a runner-up in a $1.5K WSOP event and earned $281,049. In 2015, he made a deep run in the WSOP Main Event, reaching 23rd place and winning $262,574.

Bohn’s favorite series, however, is the Mid-States Poker Tour, where he holds a unique record as the only player to win five events of the festival.

Most of Bohn’s biggest results came over a decade ago, so Rajaee Wazwaz may surpass him and Ryan Laplante on the Minnesota All-Time Money List. In 2023 and 2025, he won one WSOP event, the $880 Deep Stack ($358,346), and finished second in the Poker Hall of Fame Bounty ($207,510).

Responsible gaming

Even if poker is viewed as entertainment, certain rules and restrictions are essential. For Minnesota players, this usually comes down to a few practical habits: setting a clear budget in advance, avoiding emotionally driven decisions, taking breaks after losing sessions, and keeping track of how much money is being deposited. This approach helps keep the game under control and prevents it from becoming a source of constant stress.

Many sites offer self-control tools, such as deposit limits, time limits, and temporary self-exclusion. If gambling begins to cause financial pressure or stress, free and confidential help is available in Minnesota.

• Minnesota's Problem Gambling Helpline - 800-333-HOPE (4673)
• National Problem Gambling Helpline - 1-800-MY-RESET
• Gamblers Anonymous
• Gambling Help

Conclusion

Minnesota still does not provide access to regulated real-money online poker, and the overall situation has seen little change. As of 2026, live poker rooms continue to form the foundation of the state’s poker scene, while online options exist outside any local licensing framework.

As a result, players in Minnesota are generally left with two main choices: live casino poker or alternative online formats. Live poker remains the more stable and established option, while meaningful progress toward legalizing online poker has yet to take shape.

FAQ