There is no casino inside Minneapolis or Saint Paul. Minnesota permits only tribal casinos, and the nearest sit 25 to 40 miles outside the metro. Within about 90 minutes there are five worth knowing, and they are built for very different visits. Here they are, closest first.
The Minnesota rule
Minnesota has no commercial casinos, no state-regulated online casinos and no sports betting. Its casinos operate on tribal land under federal compacts. Most admit players from 18, though individual properties set their own policies and some areas are 21 and over, so check the venue's rules before a birthday trip.
Five casinos, closest first
| Casino | Where | Drive from Minneapolis | Floor | Best for |
| Mystic Lake Casino Hotel | Prior Lake | About 25 miles south | 4,000+ slots, 90+ tables, hotel, concert venue | The full night out |
| Little Six Casino | Prior Lake | Minutes from Mystic Lake | Slots and live blackjack | An hour's play, in and out |
| Treasure Island Resort & Casino | Welch | South-east on the Mississippi | 1,800 slots, 40 tables, poker, bingo, 788 rooms, waterpark | A family weekend |
| Grand Casino Hinckley | Hinckley, off I-35 | About 75 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes | 1,600+ slots, free parking, RV hookups | The day trip north |
| Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel | Morton | South-west, Minnesota River valley | 1,250 slots, tables, 250-seat bingo, 379 rooms, golf | A golf weekend |
Mystic Lake: the flagship
Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, run by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, is the largest casino in Minnesota and the one most Twin Cities players mean when they say "the casino." More than 4,000 slot machines, more than 90 table games, a hotel with more than 300 rooms, several restaurants and a concert venue that books national acts, open 24 hours a day. It carries a 4.1 rating from more than 27,000 Google reviewers, the largest review base of any casino in the state. If you want one destination and do not want to think about it, this is it. Read our full Mystic Lake Casino Hotel review.
Little Six: the quick alternative
The same Community runs Little Six a short distance away, and almost everyone asking about it is really asking how it compares to Mystic Lake. The answer is that it is built for a different visit: slot machines and live dealer blackjack, no poker room, no bingo hall, no big pit, and a walk from the car to a machine that takes a minute. It rates 3.9 from more than 5,700 reviewers. For an hour of play after work it is the better choice; for a night out it is not trying to be. Our Little Six review has the detail.
Treasure Island: the resort with a waterpark
Treasure Island at Welch, on the Mississippi south-east of the Twin Cities, is the Prairie Island Indian Community's resort and the most complete one in the state after Mystic Lake. It opened in 1984 and has 1,800 slot machines and 40 gaming tables, with live dealer blackjack, poker, a bingo hall, video roulette and keno all under one roof. The hotel runs 788 rooms across three towers, the second-largest hotel in Minnesota, and the reason it fills them is The Lagoon indoor waterpark. Families book for the water; parents play in the evening. It rates 3.9 from more than 17,700 reviewers. See our Treasure Island review.
Grand Casino Hinckley: the I-35 day trip
Straight up I-35, about 75 miles and an hour and twenty minutes from downtown Minneapolis, Grand Casino Hinckley has been a Twin Cities day trip since 1992. The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe runs it, the floor holds more than 1,600 slot machines, parking is free in surface lots and a garage, and RV hookups are on the property. It is also about an hour south of Duluth, which is why it draws from both cities. Details in our Grand Casino Hinckley review.
Jackpot Junction: the golf weekend
Jackpot Junction at Morton, in the Minnesota River valley to the south-west, is the Lower Sioux Indian Community's casino and the largest gaming property in that corner of the state. It has 1,250 video slot machines from a cent up to $25, table games including blackjack, a 250-seat bingo hall that twice a year hosts $70,000 bingo events, a 379-room hotel and the Dacotah Ridge championship golf course. It rates 3.9 from more than 4,500 reviewers. It is the furthest of the five and the only one with its own course. Our Jackpot Junction review covers it.
Which one
For the closest full casino, Mystic Lake, and we rate it the best choice for a first visit. For a quick hour, Little Six is better than driving past it to the bigger floor. For a family weekend, Treasure Island's waterpark and 788 rooms are unmatched in the state. Hinckley wins for anyone already heading north on I-35, and Jackpot Junction for golfers. The complete statewide picture is in our Minnesota casinos guide.
Playing from home instead
Minnesota has no state-regulated online casinos. Sweepstakes casinos operate on a no-purchase-necessary promotional model, and our best sweepstakes casinos in Minnesota guide ranks them from reviewer tests.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest casino to Minneapolis?
Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino, both in Prior Lake about 25 miles south of downtown.
Are there casinos in Minneapolis itself?
No. Minnesota permits tribal casinos only, and none sits inside Minneapolis or Saint Paul.
How old do you have to be to gamble near Minneapolis?
Most Minnesota tribal casinos admit players from 18, though some properties or areas require 21. Check the venue's own rules.
Which casino near Minneapolis has a hotel?
Mystic Lake (300+ rooms), Treasure Island (788 rooms) and Jackpot Junction (379 rooms) all do.
Which has poker?
Mystic Lake and Treasure Island run poker. Little Six does not have a poker room.
