- 7 Best Minnesota Sports Betting Sites (Offshore)
- 7. SportsBetting.ag
- Legalization of sports betting in Minnesota
- The future of sports betting in Minnesota
- When will online sports betting launch in Minnesota?
- Legal sports betting options in Minnesota
- Most popular sports to bet on in Minnesota
The number of US states where sports betting has not yet been legalized is dropping significantly with each new year. The great demand for regulations has pushed authorities of most states to regulate sports betting, and while many have already brought laws that allowed it and established firm rules about it, there are still some states that are resisting for one or more reasons.
In some of them, the proposed bills are simply not considered good enough, while in others, the current authorities are too conservative to pass sports betting laws. With that said, we wanted to see what the situation is like in Minnesota, which currently still does not have legal sports betting as of August 2022, despite three years worth of effort to pass the sports betting laws in the state.
Apparently, the legislators were open to the idea, and even eager to have it regulated, but there was a key disagreement that still stands in the way. Specifically, it appears that the problem lies with the state’s native Indian tribes. There are 11 federally recognized tribes that operate as many as 19 casinos, and they are concerned that passing a sports betting law in the state will have negative consequences on their businesses.
This has been a major barrier for years, but it appears that the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association finally changed its tune at the start of the 2022 session, and it was willing to work with the legislators on legalizing sports betting. The proposed bill would have granted the tribes exclusivity over sports betting, but the problem emerged with the Senate, which added an amendment that included two horse racing tracks. The tribes decided that this is a deal breaker, and the effort to launch sports betting in Minnesota once again failed.
One current option for residents of Minnesota are offshore sports betting sites, we feature the top ones below.
7 Best Minnesota Sports Betting Sites (Offshore)
1. Bovada
The first on our list is the Bovada sportsbook and casino, which emerged in 2011. For the first five years of operation, the platform held the Kahnawake Gambling Commission’s license, but in 2016, it decided to give up on it after the Commission went through a policy change that Bovada did not approve of. For the last six years, it has operated without a license, but that still did not affect its quality or performance.
Its sportsbook offers a variety of popular payment methods, and the ability to bet on all kinds of big sports franchises, such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, and NHL, among others. Apart from traditional currencies, it also accepts Bitcoin, and it features mobile availability. And, if bettors ever experience an issue or need any sort of help, they can contact customer support at any time via email, phone call, or live chat.
If you wish to learn more about Bovada, we recommend reading our Bovada review. Then, if you feel like this is the platform for you, feel free to proceed to the Bovada website.
2. BetUS
The second on the list is BetUS — a well-known and highly-reputable online sports betting platform for the North American market, although the platform’s reputation has been flawless ever since its foundation in 1994. The platform, which is a casino in addition to being a sportsbook, is the holder of a Curacao Gaming Commission’s license, it is privately held, and it is highly secure and reliable.
BetUS features multiple payment levels, including Visa, Mastercard, and multiple cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and alike. In terms of sports betting, the platform offers numerous options, including football, soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, cycling, golf, boxing, tennis, and more. Plus, players can also make in-play bets, meaning that they can bet on the games while they are happening. It is also rich with welcome bonuses, promotions, and other benefits that make it highly desirable among bettors.
For more information on BetUS, check out our in-depth review, which will tell you everything you need to know about the BetUS platform.
3. BetOnline
BetOnline is an online sportsbook that launched in 2004, and like our previous entries, it also offers a casino section with plenty of entertaining gaming titles. It is very user-friendly, starting with the fact that it offers a minimum deposit of $20, it features polite and capable customer support, and it is safe to use. It holds the Panama City license, and it features multiple secure payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover card, American Express, wire transfers, and even cryptocurrencies.
For those who make a minimum deposit of $55, the platform offers a generous welcome bonus, and those who use cryptocurrencies can also benefit from a number of promotions. In addition to regular, monotonous betting, there is also proposition betting that lets users bet on questions, such as which team will be the first to make the 3-point shot, and alike, just so make it more exciting.
If you are interested in betting on the BetOnline platform, we recommend reading our BetOnline review first.
4. Xbet
Halfway down the list, we have Xbet, which is a platform known for a lot of things, from tight betting odds to excellent customer service and the ability to offer things for novices and professionals alike. Xbet offers a myriad of deposit options, fast payouts, multiple betting options, bonuses, and a lot more that makes it highly attractive to bettors all over California.
The benefits of using this platform keep popping up, but in terms of flaws, it only has 3 eSports games, at least for the time being. But, there are plenty of regular sports, like MLB; NHL, WNBA, golf, soccer, tennis, MMA, boxing, NASCAR, F1, and many more options for new and experienced bettors.
If Xbet seems like a platform you would enjoy, definitely read our in-depth review and learn everything you can about it before proceeding to register on the Xbet website.
5. BUSR
In the fifth spot, we have BUSR, which stands for Bet US Racing. This is easily the best racebook for the US, and one of the leading sportsbooks, available across the country, with the only exceptions being New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. Luckily, California is not on the list.
There are numerous betting options on the platform, apart from horse races, such as MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, MMA, NCAA, betting on live baseball, and more. The platform offers multiple bonuses, including a sign-up bonus, casino bonus, cash bonus, and referral bonus. It also has great customer service available around the clock available via phone call, live chat, or email.
The BUSR website has a lot to offer, and we have listed its features and offerings in our BUSR review. So, if you are thinking of using this platform for your online betting, definitely give it a read first.
6. MyBookie
Nearing the end of the list, we have MyBookie, which is among the most trusted platforms for online gambling. Like most sportsbooks, it also offers a casino section, but both offer top-notch betting opportunities, with the sportsbook also featuring live betting options. You can bet on a variety of major international sports like basketball, football, soccer, and alike, as well as cricket, rugby, and even politics and entertainment.
MyBookie features multiple bonuses, such as a 50% sign-up bonus, a 10% cash bonus, and a 150% Casino bonus. The minimum deposit for Visa and Mastercard is somewhat elevated, sitting at $45, but if you use cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum Litecoin, or XRP, the minimum is only $20. Other than that, the platform also has 24/7 customer service available via email, live chat, and even phone calls, so you can always reach out if there is a need.
You can learn more about MyBookie from our review, and then decide if it is a website that you wish to use for your online sports betting.
7. SportsBetting.ag
The last on the list is SportsBetting.ag, which is actually a platform operated by BetOnline Group. The platform does not offer a great design, but don’t be deceived by that — it has been around for nearly two decades for a reason. It did experience financial issues in 2012, and BetOnline used this opportunity to take over. Ever since, the platform has been running smoothly, licensed by the Panama Gambling Control Board, and servicing US bettors with no issues.
It features multiple great betting opportunities, and a variety of payment methods, including crypto and fiat options alike, and it even has a casino section. In terms of available sports, there are all the popular ones, such as soccer, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and even things like snooker, darts, and handball. A welcome bonus is also included, and so are numerous promotions for crypto users, and even a loyalty and VIP program.
For more details on SportsBetting.ag, we recommend our detailed review of the platform, which will tell you everything you need to know about the SportsBetting website.
Legalization of sports betting in Minnesota
As mentioned, Minnesota has been trying to legalize sports betting for years, and its failure to do so did not come to a lack of trying.
2019
The state’s real efforts to legalize sports betting started three years ago, in 2019. Back then, two very different bills were put in front of the House and Senate. One came from Sen. Roger Chamberlain, who offered Indian casinos to take over sports betting, with the exception of two racetracks that would be state-owned. The bill also proposed mobile sports betting tethered to the existing properties. However, the tribes said no.
Another bill introduced by Rep. Pat Garofalo, attempted to secure support from the tribes by limiting sports betting only to brick-and-mortar casinos, but the tribes still disagreed.
2020
With the efforts in 2019 failing, Minnesota entered 2020 without a sports betting bill, but the state has a tradition where bills introduced in odd years carry over to even years. In other words, both bills from 2019 returned in 2020, and this time, Sen. Roger Chamberlain attempted to get the tribes on board by proposing to amend the bill to require in-person registration for mobile sports betting.
However, according to the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, not a single one of the 11 tribes were willing to accept the slightly modified bill.
2021
Despite the bills failing two years in a row, the initiative to legalize sports betting did not stop. 2021 saw the introduction of no less than five bills, although none of them received a hearing as stakeholders were still at odds. As the year was drawing to a close, Rep. Zack Stephenson stepped up, announcing a bill that would come in 2022 and that might finally satisfy all parties.
2022
Stephenson followed through on the promise, introducing a sports betting bill that quickly advanced through the House. Things were finally looking up for the future of sports betting in Minnesota until the bill reached Senate, which is where it stopped.
The Senate decided that the bill required amendments, and the members added one that included the previously mentioned two horse racing tracks, even though they were a problem for the House in both 2019 and 2020. That was pretty much where things ended, and the session was once again adjourned without coming to an agreement.
The future of sports betting in Minnesota
Despite the promising start of the legislative process in 2022, the bill that would legalize sports betting in the state never passed due to the Senate’s amendments. Tribal casinos absolutely dominate the scene in the state, and they are not willing to give over any percentage of this power, rather choosing to sacrifice any profits that might come from betting than to allow the state itself o become their competitors.
Meanwhile, the Senate seems unwilling to pass a bill that does not provide anything from the state. Online sports betting is also not something that the tribes support since their investments revolve around building land-based casinos, and online platforms are another competitor that they are not willing to even consider, let alone allow.
With a situation like that, sports betting in Minnesota remains unsolved, and the legislators will have to try again in 2023.
When will online sports betting launch in Minnesota?
For the time being, there is no telling when online sports betting might arrive. So far, the tribes have been taking a strong stance against it, as it threatens their profits, even if they get to be in charge of retail sports betting.
On the positive side, both the House and Senate bills from earlier this year included online sports betting, meaning that the legislators are strongly interested in it.
Legal sports betting options in Minnesota
As of right now, the state only allows horse betting as far as sports options go. Nothing else is allowed in Minnesota, although, for those who are interested in sports betting, there is the option to use offshore sportsbooks.
Essentially, there are numerous platforms that are established in countries all around the world, regulated and licensed, that service numerous nations, including the US. These are unfortunately the only options currently available to residents of this state.
Most popular sports to bet on in Minnesota
Minnesota is a state that has a team in pretty much every major sport under the sun. It has Minnesota Twins, who are among the most popular MLB teams, and the Lakers from NBA managed to win as many as five NBA championships. NBA also has the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are not as exciting but still quite relevant.
Then, there is an NHL team called the Minnesota Wild, which has been among the most successful Minnesota-based teams in the past two decades. And, finally, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are the biggest team when it comes to NCAA.
As mentioned, horse betting is legal in Minnesota, and the state has its two racetracks regulated by the Minnesota Racing Commission. One of them is called Canterbury Park, and it has ben around since 1985. The other one is the Running Aces Casino and Racetrack, which launched in 2008.
We should also mention that Minnesota has seen many attempts to regulate and legalize daily fantasy sports, but such attempts have been unsuccessful. Even so, DFS fans can still access sports sites that offer this form of gambling, including Fantasy Draft, Yahoo!, FanDuel, and DraftKings.