Bingo Halls in Minnesota

Minnesota regulates charitable gambling, including bingo, under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 349, overseen by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board. Qualified organizations may conduct bingo with a license, and Minnesota's charitable gambling industry is one of the largest in the nation — generating hundreds of millions of dollars annually across all charitable gaming activities. The state also has 18 tribal casinos operated by 11 tribal nations. Minnesota's charitable gambling framework makes it one of the most robust bingo markets in the United States. The Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area anchors the state's bingo scene, with games at churches, fraternal organizations, bars, and restaurants throughout the Twin Cities. Minnesota is notable for allowing charitable gambling, including bingo and pull-tabs, in licensed establishments like bars and restaurants, which broadens access beyond the traditional church or civic hall model. Rochester, Duluth, St. Cloud, and Bloomington all have active bingo and charitable gaming operations. In Greater Minnesota (areas outside the Twin Cities), bingo nights are important community events, particularly in the small towns that dot the state's agricultural heartland. Tribal gaming adds another tier to Minnesota's bingo landscape. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel (Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community) near Prior Lake is one of the largest tribal gaming facilities in the Midwest. Grand Casino Mille Lacs, Shooting Star Casino, and Treasure Island Resort and Casino all offer gaming that includes bingo-style games. Minnesota's charitable gambling system is unique in that it allows bingo and pull-tabs at licensed bars and restaurants, not just at traditional venues like churches and fraternal halls — this significantly broadens access and keeps bingo visible in everyday social settings across the state. Minnesota's combination of a well-regulated and expansive charitable gaming industry, strong Scandinavian and German-American community organization traditions, and significant tribal gaming presence creates one of the most diverse and active bingo markets in the country.