Bingo in Minnesota: Laws, Halls & Online Bingo (2026 Guide)

Is bingo legal in Minnesota?

Yes. Minnesota calls charity gaming “lawful gambling,” and bingo is one of five games licensed nonprofits may run, along with pull-tabs, tipboards, paddlewheels and raffles. The Minnesota Gambling Control Board licenses the organizations, and the rules live in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 349.

What sets Minnesota apart is scale. Licensed charities took in about $4.9 billion in gross receipts in fiscal year 2025, according to the board’s annual report, which makes Minnesota’s charitable gambling market one of the largest in the country. Most of that comes from pull-tabs, both paper and electronic, sold in bars and restaurants on behalf of youth sports clubs, veterans posts and fire departments.

Bingo sits alongside that, in paper and electronic form, at charity halls and in the bingo rooms of tribal casinos.

How old do you have to be to play bingo in Minnesota?

You must be 18. Section 349.181 says a person under 18 may not play bingo, with two exceptions: exempt or excluded games (small, occasional events that do not need a full license) and bingo at an organization’s annual community event when the child is with a parent or guardian.

The same law keeps minors away from pull-tabs, tipboards, paddlewheels and raffles, although a person under 18 may sell raffle tickets. Tribal casinos set their own age rules for bingo and the gaming floor.

Can you play online bingo for real money in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota has not legalized online casino games, and as of October 2026 it has not legalized sports betting either. Licensed charities can offer electronic bingo and e-pulltabs, but only on approved devices inside licensed premises, not on your phone at home.

Our online bingo guide explains which apps are free-play and which involve money. If you are worried about your gambling, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.

Are sweepstakes bingo sites legal in Minnesota?

For now they operate without a ban. In 2026 the Minnesota Senate passed SF 4474, which would have outlawed dual-currency sweepstakes casinos and penalized payment processors and other partners that support them. The bill was sent to a House committee on May 4 and went no further before the session ended on May 18.

That leaves Minnesota with no sweepstakes-specific law, and the major sweepstakes brands still accept players here. Lawmakers can bring the idea back in 2027, so keep an eye on prize balances. Our sweepstakes bingo explainer covers how these sites work.

Where can you play bingo in Minnesota?

Tribal casinos run the largest sessions, while charity bingo is spread across VFW and American Legion posts, churches and bars with electronic bingo tablets. The venues we checked are in the table below.

Mystic Lake in Prior Lake promotes classic and Cosmic Bingo with bonanza jackpots up to $150,000. Treasure Island Resort & Casino near Red Wing has a 500-seat high stakes bingo hall, and Black Bear Casino Resort in Carlton plays Wednesday through Sunday.

How to run a charity bingo game in Minnesota

Minnesota draws a sharp line between small occasional events and regular licensed gaming.

1. Check whether you need a license. Small or infrequent events may qualify as exempt or excluded bingo, which has lighter requirements than a full license. Ask the Gambling Control Board which category fits your event.
2. For regular games, get licensed. Organizations that play bingo regularly must hold a lawful gambling license from the board and name a gambling manager.
3. Get local approval. The city or county where the games are held must sign off on the premises.
4. Use licensed suppliers for bingo paper, pull-tabs and electronic games.
5. Keep the proceeds separate. Lawful gambling money goes into a dedicated account and may only be spent on lawful purposes.
6. Keep players and sellers 18+, except for the exemptions above.

For prizes, pricing and staffing ideas, see our bingo fundraiser guide. Players near the St. Croix can compare the rules in Wisconsin.