Business & Tech
These 14 Gambling Sites Were Told To Leave Minnesota
If you've been gambling online in Minnesota, you may have been breaking the law without realizing it.
SAINT PAUL, MN — If you’ve been gambling online in Minnesota, you may have been breaking the law without realizing it. Attorney General Keith Ellison this month ordered 14 online gambling platforms to stop operating in the state, saying they may violate Minnesota’s consumer-protection and gambling laws.
The letters target so-called “social sweepstakes” casinos, where players buy virtual coins and use them to play slots or roulette for real-world cash prizes, as well as sportsbooks, poker rooms, and other casino-style sites that take bets online.
“Online platforms offering sportsbooks and casino games run by out-of-state and overseas operators may make it look as though online gambling is legal and safe in Minnesota, but let me be clear: it is not,” Ellison said.
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The 14 sites that received cease-and-desist letters include:
VG LuckyLand, Zula Casino, Fortune Coins, BetAnySports, BetUS, XBet, BetNow, BetWhale, EveryGame Sportsbook, BetOnline, Slotsandcasino, Bovada, MyBookie.com, and Sportsbetting.com.
Find out what's happening in Saint Paulfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
State officials say none of these platforms are regulated or audited in Minnesota, meaning players have no guarantee they’ll get paid if they win or get their money back if they’re scammed.
“Illegal online casinos and sweepstakes sites make big promises but deliver only risk,” said Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson. “There’s no accountability, no protection for players, and no way to know if the betting will be run fairly.”
Sports betting remains illegal in Minnesota, even though dozens of other states have legalized it since a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowed them to do so.
Legal gambling options here include charitable gaming, horse racing, the Minnesota Lottery, and tribal casinos.
Minnesotans can report illegal gambling websites to the state’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division at (651) 201-7536 or through its online complaint form.
Those struggling with gambling addiction can call 800-333-HOPE or visit mnapg.org for free, confidential help.
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