Poker Tournaments in Minnesota in 2024 – MN Poker Tournaments Schedule & Results

Read on and learn about the biggest poker tournaments in the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Last Updated on February 15, 2024 by Avatar Author Adrian Sterne
Fact checked by Dusan Jovanovic

Minnesota doesn’t boast the longest history of gambling. In fact, the North Star State kept this activity off-limits for all residents and visitors until the late 1980s. However, the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act changed everything. In a span of a decade, Minnesota got its first casinos, pari-mutuel betting parlors, and the state lottery.

The same gambling options remain available today. The Land of 10,000 Lakes has made no attempts at legalizing online gambling, including poker. Still, MN online poker fans aren’t entirely out of luck. Many offshore sites with regular tournaments offer their services to players from this state. Read on to learn more about Minnesota poker tournaments and find out where you can play them.

Poker Tournaments in Minnesota

Most of Minnesota’s history seems unremarkable from a gambler’s point of view. Like the majority of US states, MN prohibited all forms of gambling within its territory until the late 20th century. The first breakthrough happened in 1983 after the state legalized pari-mutuel betting.

This sudden change opened the floodgates to other gambling activities. Minnesotans got their first land-based casinos with poker tournaments after the US Congress enacted the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988. The law authorized all federally-recognized Native American tribes to take charge of gambling activities on their land. A total of 11 tribes from Minnesota jumped at this opportunity, and it became the first US territory to negotiate a compact under this law.

Lottery games were the next form of gaming to become legal in the North Star State. A year after the country adopted IGRA, Minnesota launched its state lottery. Unfortunately, the domino effect stopped there, and no other significant developments have taken place since.

Residents have seen attempts at legalizing DFS and sports betting and taking lottery sales online. However, all three were put on hold. As of now, Minnesota offers no state-licensed real-money online gambling sites.

Online Poker Tournaments in Minnesota

Minnesota has never shown much interest in online gambling. All previous efforts toward iGaming legalization of any kind failed quickly. Lawmakers made online lottery tickets legal in 2013, but an overwhelmingly negative response led to their suspension. They also sought to regulate daily fantasy sports in 2017 without success.

The last attempt at any kind of internet gaming legalization occurred in 2022. The Minnesota House passed a sports betting bill in May. The HF 778 was supposed to give MN tribes control over sports wagering. Nevertheless, the MN Senate rejected the law after the Senate Finance Committee attached an amendment that MIGA refused to support.

None of these proposals included online poker sites gambling provisions. So, legalized real-money online poker has never been a feasible option in Minnesota. Sweepstakes casinos are the only MN state-licensed online gaming sites you can find. They offer some online poker games and tournaments. However, these feature modified rules and don’t allow real-money bets.

MN players interested in real cash poker tournament action can find it in offshore online poker rooms. These gaming platforms offer a wide array of poker variants and run regular competitions. They’re registered outside of Minnesota, so they’re technically not subject to its online gambling restrictions.

However, Minnesotan authorities have issued statements warning residents that joining these sites can have legal consequences. So, it would be wise to consult your lawyer and find out what your rights are before playing in these online poker sites.

Land-Based Poker Tournaments in Minnesota

Minnesota boasts a rich land-based gambling scene. Eleven federally-recognized MN tribes opened casinos after the Senate adopted IGRA in 1988. Thanks to their tax-exempt status and popularity among players, these venues are still open today. Most of them feature poker rooms and organize regular daily and weekly tournaments.

The Gopher State has no commercial casinos, but its race tracks include cardrooms. These establishments host live poker games like Texas Hold’em, Pai Gow, Three Card Poker, and others. Canterbury Park also runs occasional poker tournaments. All MN residents and visitors aged 18 or above are free to play at any mentioned locations.

It’s worth noting Minnesota also allows charitable gaming. Nevertheless, the category is limited to a few unique games. So, there are no charitable poker events in the state.

How to Register for an Online Poker Tournament in Minnesota

If you’re ready to try your luck at poker tournaments available in Minnesota, you’ll need to register first. The process comprises a few simple steps. Here’s what you need to do:

Pick a gambling site

Various reputable offshore poker rooms accept players from Minnesota. We’ve scoured the web, found the best ones, and linked them on this page. Check out our list, explore the poker sites’ tournament offers, and choose the operator you like the most.

Sign up for an account

Every poker website requires you to register if you want to play real-money poker tournaments. You can do so by opening your operator’s website, selecting the Sign-Up button, and completing the registration form.

Online poker sites usually require you to confirm your email address or phone number before you’re able to log in. Check your email or phone for verification messages from the poker site. Use the code to activate your account and log in.

Deposit & Play

You won’t be able to play any real-money games without cash in your account, which means you must make a deposit. Navigate to the Payment section and select the method you’d like to use for deposits. Enter the amount you’re ready to transfer and confirm the request.

You can start gaming as soon as the money appears in your account balance. Find the room’s poker tournament offer, review the selection, and read the rules. Enter the competition you like the most. Happy gaming!

Minnesota Land-Based Casinos With Poker Tournaments

Minnesota offers 19 land-based tribal casinos and 2 retail card rooms with poker games. Most MN tribal casinos feature live poker rooms that run regular tournaments. The biggest ones are in Prior Lake and Welch and offer over 100,000 square feet of gaming space. The rest are scattered across the state, so it’s easy to find one near you.

The two MN commercial cardrooms are part of its racetrack locations. Both have a wide selection of poker games, but Canterbury Park has the edge. The venue features a 30-table poker room and regularly hosts big events. The Heartland Poker Tour and Canterbury Fall Classic Series attract most players and spectators.

All North Star State poker rooms are worth a visit, but a few should take priority. We’ve listed their names and addresses below. Take a look.

Minnesota Poker Tournament Schedule

There’s no shortage of land-based and online poker tournaments in Minnesota. All you need to do is keep up to date with upcoming events. Our poker tournament schedule should make that task easy. Check it out below and find the competition you want to enter!

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Final Thoughts

Minnesota was slow to pass gambling-friendly laws, but its gaming scene exploded once it did. Today, the Land of 10,000 Lakes offers 19 land-based tribal casinos, 2 retail card rooms, racetracks, and the state lottery. Real-money online poker still hasn’t become part of its offer, but plenty of offshore poker rooms that accept MN players host this game. Our website features a selection of the best sites.

FAQ

Are poker tournaments legal in Minnesota?

They are. Several state-licensed tribal casinos and retail card rooms in Minnesota run poker tournaments. You can enter any of them as long as you’re at least 18.

What’s the best poker room in Minnesota?

Minnesota has many great land-based poker rooms, but Canterbury Park stands out as one of the finest. The venue features 30 tables and hosts significant poker tournaments.

Are there online poker tournaments in Minnesota?

The Gopher State hasn’t legalized online gambling, so it features no real-money internet poker rooms. However, numerous offshore poker rooms with poker tournaments offer their services in Minnesota. You can find a list of the best ones on this page.

What’s the biggest poker tournament in Minnesota?

Harland Poker Tour and Canterbury Fall Classic Series are some of Minnesota’s most popular poker events. Both have taken place in Canterbury Park, Shakopee.

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