Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that same year and allowed tribal lands to regulate casino-style gambling activities. Around this time, the tribal casinos were a rising star in gambling as well. Lottery made its way through legislation with the other forms of gambling in 1988. Minnesota tried to get back to off-track betting once again in 1994, yet the suggestion didn’t impress voters. It was ruled unconstitutional after only three years. A constitutional amendment pushed forward the legislation of the horse racing industry in 1982 (which got its legal framework in 1983) and caused the forming of the Minnesota Racing Commission.Īn attempt to legalize off-track betting was made in 1989 it went through but didn’t last for long.

While many states started their gambling adventure with horse racing, this wasn’t the case with the North Star State. Three years later, pull-tabs joined the gang of officially allowed forms of gambling in Minnesota. In 1978, new gambling options appeared, such as raffles, paddlewheels and tip boards. Gambling in Minnesota debuted rather late, with Bingo in 1945, but only through charities. Minnesota Casinos, Gambling, and Law Regulations: An Overview