Minnesota Tribal Gaming

Only tribal casinos are legal in Minnesota, and all function according to tribal-state compacts. Blackjack, poker and slots are the only legal Class III games. Tribes do not need a compact to offer Class II games.

Minnesota was one of the first states to negotiate gaming compacts under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Many states and tribes placed a time limit on the compacts, but Minnesota tribes acquired no-limit compacts. Attempts to force the state's gaming tribes to contribute to the tax coffers are ongoing. In Minnesota, compacts were signed about 15 years ago and didn't include revenue sharing with the state.

In August 2004, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe offered to enter into discussions with government leaders about profit sharing. However, negotiations broke down after Gov. Tim Pawlenty called for the tribes to pay $350 million a year and threatened that Las Vegas operators might be invited to participate in Minnesota's gaming industry.

Though a measure failed in early 2012 to allow slot machines at racetracks, in May 2012, Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill that would allow simulcast betting at Indian casinos. The bill also includes more poker tables and increased betting limits at the racetracks.