Best Sweepstakes Casinos in Minnesota
Over 50 sweepstakes casinos operate legally in Minnesota. The recent pullouts from other states did not affect the North Star state, and all the heavy hitters remain available.
Top Minnesota sweepstakes:
- Megabonanza Casino (5 Free SC + 250,000 WOW Coins)
- Crown Coins Casino (2 SC + 100,000 Crown Coins)
- Spree Casino (2 SC + 100,000 Crown Coins)
- Wow Vegas (5 Free SC + 250,000 WOW Coins)
Are sweepstakes social casinos legal in Minnesota?
Yes, sweepstakes casinos are legal alternatives to real-money online casinos. They let you play casino-style games both for fun and real money prizes.
Can I win real money playing at Minnesota social sweepstakes casinos?
No, not in the strict sense of the word. You can, however, redeem the Sweepstakes Coins you won either as real cash prizes or gift cards.
Can I claim bonuses at Minnesota sweepstakes casinos?
No, but you can claim promotional offers that give you free Gold Coins and free Sweepstakes Coins or discounts on GC purchases.
What is the difference between social and sweepstakes casinos?
Sweepstakes casinos like High 5 or Pulsz let you play both for fun and for real cash prizes. Conversely, at social casinos like BetRivers, you can only play for fun.
What types of games can I play at Minnesota sweepstakes casinos?
Minnesota sweepstakes casinos feature hundreds of casino-style games like online slots, blackjack, poker, roulette, baccarat, and skill-based titles like fish. Likewise, you can also play live dealer games.
Meta title: Minnesota Sweepstakes Casinos: Brief History and Regulation (2025)
Meta description: Learn more about Minnesota sweepstakes casinos. Discover their history, regulations, and the best operators in Minnesota for playing casino-style games.
Minnesota Sweepstakes Casinos in 2025
Despite positive signals, Minnesota isn’t even close to legalizing online gambling. However, you can freely play slots, blackjack, poker, roulette, and other casino-style games at dozens of sweepstakes casinos in Minnesota. These casinos are legal in North Star State as long as they stick to some ground rules, such as offering free play and using virtual currencies.
That said, you can also redeem real cash prizes under certain rules. Stick with us to learn more.
What Are Minnesota Sweepstakes Casinos?
Real-money online casino sites are legal in only a handful of US states like Michigan or Delaware. With more than 40 other states just as eager to enjoy casino gaming, the situation gave rise to the sweepstakes casino model.
Sweepstakes casinos operate under the ‘no purchase-necessary’ rule, letting you play casino-style games for free without paying anything beforehand. In Minnesota, under certain conditions, you can also play games to win real cash prizes.
As a result, Minnesota sweepstakes casinos aren’t considered gambling sites. They don’t use real money currencies or bonuses, and they offer different payment options.
Sweepstakes Casino Currencies
To remain legal in Minnesota, sweepstakes casino sites can’t use US Dollars anywhere in their casino game sections. Instead, they utilize virtual currencies that have no monetary value outside of the casino.
The two most commonly used currencies include:
• Gold Coins: Purchased in bundles and used for free play only.
• Sweepstakes Coins: Awarded as free gifts and redeemable as real money prizes.
Some casinos like High 5 get creative and include a third currency, Diamonds, in this case.
Sweepstakes Casino Bonuses
Similarly, Minnesota sweepstakes casinos cannot give you reload bonuses or free spins, but they’ve found a way to shower players with free GC and SC. It all starts with a no-deposit welcome promotion that often includes both Gold Coins and free Sweepstakes Coins.
Other promotions you can find in Minnesota sweepstakes casinos include:
• Daily Login: Visit the casino every day to claim free GC.
• Wheel of Fortune: Spin the wheel every few days to win free GC and SC
• Social Media Tournaments: Hit a particular multiplier to win a share of 6-digit prize pools.
• VIP Program: The longer you play, the bigger promotional offers you can claim.
And that’s just scratching the surface. Features like game challenges, missions, or the Piggy Bank promo make sweepstakes sites more generous than their real money peers.
Sweepstakes Casino Prize Redemptions
While purchase methods are very similar—you can use your Visa, Mastercard, e-wallets, or crypto to purchase GC bundles, the redemption process in sweeps sites works a bit differently.
For starters, you can only redeem Sweepstakes Coins that you previously played through. Likewise, the redemption can include cash prizes redeemable via credit cards, bank transfers, or crypto. Alternatively, they can be gift cards (through Prizeout) that are redeemable in large retailers like Amazon or Walmart.
History of Sweepstakes Casinos in Minnesota
Sweepstakes casinos flourished in Minnesota due to the state’s hardline stance against real-money casino sites. They took off as early as the 2010s, with pioneers like Chumba, High 5, and Global Poker finding fertile ground in the North Star State.
As for gambling in Minnesota per se, it dates back to the 19th century in the form of unregulated card or dice games. The widespread gambling ban was introduced in the early 20th century, but the illegal activities continued to thrive.
Everything changed in the 1980s when The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) allowed tribal casinos to operate. This was soon followed by the launch of riverboat casinos on the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. Charitable gaming and DFS got the green light in the 2000s, while sports betting and online casinos remain a hot topic.
Current Online Gambling Legislation in Minnesota
The Minnesota Gambling Control Board (GCB) is responsible for overseeing the state’s gambling laws. As things stand, Minnesota allows tribal casinos, riverboat casinos, bets on pari-mutuel horse racing, DFS, and charitable gambling.
There is a growing momentum to legalize sports betting, with a new Senate bill introduced in January 2025. Although legislators are still on the fence, there are rumours that 2025 could be the year for legalizing sports betting. There is still no talk about legalizing online casinos, so sweepstakes will likely remain the norm for some time.
