As Super Bowl excitement ramps up, so does the temptation to jump into illegal sports betting in Minnesota. And it’s not just limited to the Super Bowl. Take the case of the Coon Rapids woman who wanted to make some easy money on NFL games — illegally. She hopped from bar to bar in Anoka County during the NFL season from 2017 to 2020.

The visits were short, just enough time for her to sell illegal football tip board tickets to bar patrons. Illegal tip board tickets typically conceal a set of two numbers that represent the game scores gamblers bet on.

The Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement (AGE) division was alerted and investigated. Special agents arrested the woman, and the 66-year-old defendant was convicted of a felony in 2021 for illegally selling and possessing gambling equipment.

Legal and illegal betting occurs throughout the NFL season across the U.S., and with the Super Bowl, the figures are astounding. The American Gaming Association estimates Americans will legally wager $1.76 billion on Super Bowl LX this year. Last year, the Campaign for Fairer Gambling estimated Americans would bet $6.4 billion online on Super Bowl LIX with 75 percent of it going to illegal online sports operators.

Consumer risk

Online gaming such as sports betting and sweepstakes are considered illegal in Minnesota. You risk losing money to shady, overseas operators:

• There is no guarantee that you’ll get paid if you win.
• There is no way to know if the betting will be run fairly.
• There is likely no way to get your money back if you've been wronged.

“Our youngest Minnesotans can be especially vulnerable,” said Brad Rezny, AGE assistant special agent in charge. “When it's illegal and not regulated, we can't protect minors from gambling. It can become very addictive. That's unfortunately what we see with some investigations, how it grabs onto people. The next thing you know, their bank account is blown, and they're trying to find a way to get money back, which can lead to more gambling.”

What’s allowed in Minnesota for sports wagering?

Charitable sports-themed tip boards

You can buy tickets or squares on sports-themed tip boards operated by charities. You may see these at establishments that offer licensed, charitable gambling such as pull tabs. Signs of a legal tip board include the Minnesota state seal and a barcode, and they are sold by a state-licensed nonprofit organization.

Private social bets

Private social bets are unorganized, spur-of-the-moment bets that typically happen between friends, family members or acquaintances. For example, “I bet you $20 that the kicker misses this field goal.” These bets are typically small, informal and made for fun rather than profit.

When do private social bets cross the line into being illegal?

If private wagers regularly occur at a business, that establishment risks violating the law. If the betting is no longer spur-of-the-moment, it’s also illegal. For instance, an organized or promoted effort in the days leading up to a game — such as a person selling illegal football tip board squares or tickets ahead of time to a larger group of friends or coworkers, including an office sports pool.

Bars and other establishments with liquor licenses

By preventing illegal sports betting at your establishment, you:

• Protect customers’ money.
• Protect the integrity and benefits of legal, charitable gaming, such as pull tabs.
• Don’t risk losing your liquor license if you suspect illegal gaming and don’t try to stop it.

Rezny says AGE’s priority is to gain compliance through education. “If that fails, then we’ll enforce through the criminal route. Sometimes if the activity is egregious like the Anoka County case, we’ll immediately pursue a criminal investigation.”

Anyone can contact our AGE team or submit a tip if they suspect illegal sports betting is happening. Also check out the information and FAQs on the AGE site to learn more about gambling laws and consumer safety in Minnesota.