Minnesota poker law, explained

• Minnesota's racetracks can run card clubs under Minn. Stat. § 240.30.
• Bet cap: No wager may exceed $100. Games where each player gets only one wager, or has a limited chance to change it, can go up to $300 (subd. 8).
• Table cap: At most 80 tables for card playing at one time, not counting tournament tables (subd. 8).
• The cap was raised from $60 to $100 by HF 2975, signed by Gov. Mark Dayton. The same law raised the table limit from 50 to 80 and removed limits on poker tournaments (Canterbury Park).

In tournaments, yes. No-limit Hold'em tournaments run every day. Regular cash games at the card clubs are limit or spread-limit (for example 2-100 spread limit) because of the $100 cap. Both rooms also offer formats close to no-limit cash:

• Canterbury: no-limit Survival games, which the room calls "the closest thing to a no-limit cash game you'll find in Minnesota" (FAQ).
• Running Aces: Timed NLH and PLO games: "cash game-style" play inside a tournament structure (poker page).

Canterbury: 18+ to enter the casino (FAQ). Running Aces: 18+ to wager (site footer). Free bar Hold'em tournaments are also 18+ by law (below).

Minn. Stat. § 609.761, subd. 3 allows Texas Hold'em tournaments only if all of these are true:

• No entry fee or other payment to play.
• The promoter or organizer gets no direct financial benefit.
• Prizes are worth no more than $200 per tournament, and no more than $200 per winner per day at one location.
• No players under 18.
• Reasonable accommodations for players with disabilities, such as announcing the cards and providing Braille cards.

A private social bet between friends is allowed when it isn't part of organized, commercial gambling (MN House Research). That's why bar leagues are free and give out small prizes. Find a bar league →

Not allowed. Minnesota charitable gambling is limited to pull-tabs, tipboards, paddlewheels, bingo and raffles. The Gambling Control Board says "Casino Night" or poker tournaments aren't allowed as fundraisers (GCB manual). The card clubs do run charity add-on events, such as Canterbury's St. Jude NLH.

Canterbury issues a W-2G on buy-in tournament payouts over $5,000 net, following federal rules (FPC Main Event rules).

Tribal casinos such as Treasure Island and Grand Casino Hinckley operate under tribal-state compacts, not the card-club statute, so their games and rules can differ. Check with each room.