
There’s no real money online casino in Minnesota that can operate legally as of the time of writing. So how can you play the games you love when you’re in the state? Well, sweepstakes casinos are the way to go.
Yes, you read that right. While real money gaming (RMG) sites are not allowed to operate in the state, sweepstakes casinos became a way for players to get into action without worry about legal issues. In this guide, I’ll discuss the best options where you can enjoy playing, how these sites work, and the best picks for MN players.
Let’s start with the bad news. Online casinos that accept classic, “real money” plays are strictly prohibited in Minnesota and have been for quite some time, just as how any online casino in Wisconsin isn’t allowed to operate in the area.
The same can be said of online casino Georgia and most other parts of the US, with only a very small handful of US states offering legit, locally licensed real money gaming options right now.
So, what’s the best alternative for those of us based in unregulated states, and unable to access Minnesota or Massachusetts online casinos for the simple reason that such sites don’t exist yet?
Well, the easy answer is sweepstakes casinos – which I’d argue are the next best thing. These totally legit, virtual coin based alternatives offer all the same kinds of games, and several other big benefits to boot.
At the time of writing, there’s a whole bunch of legal sweepstakes casinos available to Minnesotans, for starters, including Stake.us, RealPrize, Crown Coins, Sidepot and Myprize.us – all of which I’ll be talking more about in a bit.
Meanwhile, any new online casinos to launch in the state will continue to follow the sweepstakes model until the legislative outlook for cash based casinos changes, which looks unlikely for now.
But what are the ins and outs of playing with a virtual coin powered casino over a conventional one? Well, aside from the obvious fact it’s legal, here’s what you need to know:
Currently, the best online casinos in MN that utilize the sweepstakes setup all work in pretty much the same way – which is fantastic news for those of you who’ve never tried one out before.
How do sweeps sites differ from classic casinos? Put simply, a “no purchase necessary” policy applies at all times, while cash plays are completely replaced by a virtual coin based dual currency system. On most sites, the two following types of chips are used for gameplay purposes:
| Type of virtual currency | How it works | How to collect it | Notable restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coins (GC) | GC exist strictly for your entertainment. | By claiming free GC bonuses, winning at GC games, or making optional GC bundle purchases. | GCs have no cash or prize redeemable value; they're available literally just for fun. |
| Sweeps Coins (GC) | SC can be entered into sweepstakes style games and tournaments, and later redeemed for IRL prizes. | By claiming free SC bonuses or winning at SC games only. | SC can only be redeemed for real world prizes once certain conditions have been met – including playthrough and minimum redemption requirements. |
And that’s pretty much all you need to know. Although there are plenty of “how to” guides available on my site if you’d like to shape up on some more sweepstakes basics.
Once you’re all clued up on the two tier coin system, actually finding sweepstakes online casinos in Minnesota that offer the kinds of games you’re into is a cinch. Really, it’s just a case of:
The no purchase necessary nature of these sites means that sweepstakes casinos tend to be super generous on the bonus front, too. While no deposit casino bonuses are very rare in the real money gaming world, virtually all sweepstakes casinos offer free to claim GC and SC bonuses to new players on sign up.
Although of course, the size and quality of said promotions is always going to vary from one site to the next. So, let’s review the five best online casinos in Minnesota right now that offer legal to play sweepstakes games instead of off-limits cash ones.
Right now, Stake.us, RealPrize, Crown Coins, Sidepot and Myprize.us take the top five spots on my Minnesota online casino list – because each one goes above and beyond for sweepstakes players, albeit in its own way.
Here’s a table offering a quick comparison between the five sites, and the best online casino bonus (denoted in GC and SC, of course), that each brand has to offer.
And if that’s not enough info to help you decide where’s best to play, don’t worry – because I’ll hit you with a full review of each operator below.
| Welcome bonus | Game options | |
|---|---|---|
| Stake.us | 560,000 GC + 56 SC + 5% rakeback – enter my code BALLISLIFE to claim. | 2,000+ slots, tables, live dealer and “Stake Originals” games. |
| RealPrize | Up to 625,000 GC + 125 SC + 1250 VIP Points. | 700+ slots, megaways and fruit machines. |
| Crown Coins | 100,000 GC-style Crown Coins + 2 SC. | 450+ slots, jackpots and reels. |
| Sidepot | 10,000 GC + 1 free SC. | 1,000+ slots, hold and win, and “Originals” games. |
| Myprize.us | 1,000 GC + 1 free SC. | 800+ slots, live dealer games, and more. |
Looking to learn a little more about each brand? I’ve been playing at all five sites for quite some time now, and here’s what I’ve learned about their offerings:
With a whopping more than 2,000 different games up for grabs, Stake.us is one of the best sweepstakes online casinos in Minnesota right now, particularly for players who value game range and diversity.
What’s interesting about Stake.us is that on top of its ample slots, roulette tables and live dealer blackjack options, the brand is increasingly branching out into exciting new genres, too – having launched several weird and wonderful Stake Originals titles like Mines, Pump and Plinko in recent years.
Meanwhile, there’s also a barnstorming 560,000 GC, 56 SC and 5% rakeback bonus for the taking when you first register here – but only if you remember to enter my code on sign up.
At a time when real money online casinos in Minnesota with no purchase bonuses simply don’t exist, RealPrize is arguably the next best thing, offering one of the biggest and best free to claim bonuses currently on the MN market.
When registering here, it’s possible to qualify for a staggering bonus worth up to 625,000 GC, 125 free SC and 1,250 VIP Points right now, followed by daily reload promotions and access to constantly rotating leaderboard tournaments thereafter.
And once you're in, you’ll have more than 700 different slots, megaways and fruit machines at your disposal – all of which can be enjoyed in either GC or SC mode.
Crown Coins claims to be the “number one social casino in America” – and from a software standpoint, it certainly is.
The brand’s Pragmatic Play and Hacksaw Gaming powered slots load up in a flash, and offer market leading graphics and user friendliness across the board.
Plus there are more than 450 different slots style games to choose from, which you can play for free from day one using a real decent 100,000 Crown Coins (GC) and 2 free SC sign up bonus.
Later down the line, the site offers free daily reloads and several optional GC bundle packages, the bulk of which will bag you a few free SC as a bonus when you opt in.
If slots are what get you going, Sidepot is pretty difficult to match right now, offering anything from quirky, high volatility hold and win games like Leprechaun Wish and Super 3 Hot Chillies, to classic and essential reels like Big Bass Bonanza 1,000.
You’ll get a competitive 100,000 free GC and 1 SC bonus to throw at your first few games, followed by access to all different kinds of other, equally exciting existing player promos, too.
Meanwhile, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that Sidepot’s powered by the same guys behind popular social betting site Fliff – which boasts one of the best brand reputations in the biz.
Last but not least, MyPrize.us is definitely one to watch right now. Why? Well, sweepstakes online casinos in Minnesota seldom offer as many high end live dealer games as here, where you’ll find dozens of “Live Social Games” spanning all kinds of different sub categories.
Most of the live dealer experiences available hail from software heavyweights like Evolution Gaming and Iconic21, while you’ll get a modest but still solid 1,000 GC and 1 free SC to try them out with from the get go.
A little later, you’ll be offered daily reloads worth up to another 1,000 free GC daily, as well as competitive GC bundle options starting from just $9.99 for 10,000 GC – which includes a 10 free SC bonus, by the way.
For the time being, there are no legal real money online casinos in Minnesota, and whether this will change anytime soon remains uncertain. But don’t fret, because sweepstakes casinos are here to stay, and these very viable, GC and SC based alternatives are just as much fun, if not more.
Right now, you can sign up with Stake.us, RealPrize, Crown Coins, Sidepot or Myprize.us in a matter of minutes, and qualify for a competitive GC and SC bonus no matter which way you decide to lean.
Just remember to use my banner links on this page to reach the official site for your preferred brand – and to enter my code if you’re going after Stake.us’ bonus.
On top of all that, playing responsibly should give you a better chance to maximize your experience and get a lot of valuable winnings in the long run.
In short, if real money is involved, no. However, online casino style games offered by virtual coin based sweepstakes casinos are legal in the state.
Real money online casinos are only legal in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and a small handful of other regions. Elsewhere, cash based online gaming simply isn’t available – conventional online casino Illinois, for example, don’t exist.
Nor do locally regulated real money gaming options in Minnesota. Fortunately, game lovers in most US states can still enjoy virtual coin powered games at sweepstakes casinos, subject to local regulations.
You’ll find roulette, blackjack and baccarat options at both Stake.us and Myprize.us right now. But I’d argue Stake.us offers the broadest and most diverse selection – particularly if you’re after poker games, or market topping software.