If you have ever attended a casino night event in Minnesota and noticed that two of the most iconic casino games — craps and roulette — were nowhere to be found, you were not imagining things. Both games are prohibited at charitable and social casino events in the state of Minnesota. It is one of the most common questions we receive at Ace High Casino, and it deserves a thorough, honest answer.
This article explains exactly why craps and roulette are banned in Minnesota, what the law does and does not permit, the one exception to the rule, and where guests can experience these games if they want the full casino floor experience.
The Short Answer: Minnesota’s Charitable Gambling Laws
Minnesota regulates all forms of gambling under the Minnesota Charitable Gambling Act, administered by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board. The law defines which games are permitted at licensed charitable gambling events and which are not. Craps and roulette fall squarely outside the list of permitted games for charitable or social casino events in the state.
This is not a matter of interpretation or a gray area in the law. It is a categorical prohibition. Any casino entertainment company operating legally in Minnesota — including Ace High Casino — cannot offer craps or roulette tables at events held in the state, regardless of whether the event is a corporate party, a nonprofit fundraiser, or any other social gathering.
The reasoning behind the restriction comes down to the nature of the games themselves. Craps and roulette are both games of pure chance with no skill component, and they are structured in a way that generates faster and higher-volume betting than card games. Minnesota’s regulatory framework has historically treated them differently from card-based casino games as a result. The state permits a defined list of casino-style games for charitable events while excluding others — and craps and roulette have never made the permitted list.
What Minnesota Law Does Permit
While craps and roulette are off the table, Minnesota’s charitable gaming framework does permit a robust lineup of casino games for licensed events. At Ace High Casino, our full Minnesota-legal game inventory includes:
- Blackjack — including variations like Blackjack Swap, Blackjack Blitz, and Blackjack Rummy
- 3-Way Action Poker — our most requested game, combining high card, blackjack, and 7-card stud
- Texas Hold’em Poker
- Pai Gow Poker
- Baccarat
- Play ’Em All — our version of Let It Ride
- Money Wheel
- Ace Dice
- Horse Racing
- Red Dog, Bang, Card Battle, Chuck a Luck, Cup o’ Luck, Rock Paper Scissors, Double Down Poker, and more
This is an extensive lineup that gives event planners enormous variety and guests plenty to explore throughout the evening. The absence of craps and roulette is a limitation, but it is one that a well-designed event can work around effectively with the right game mix.
The One Exception: Your Own Home
Minnesota law does include one notable exception to the prohibition on craps and roulette: private social gambling in a person’s own home. Under Minnesota Statute 609.761, social gambling is permitted when it is conducted in a private residence, all participants are present at the same location, no one is taking a rake or profiting from the gambling, and the gambling is not the primary purpose of the gathering.
In plain terms: if you want to set up a craps table or a roulette wheel in your basement for a private party with friends and family, Minnesota law does not prohibit it. The game is for the enjoyment of the participants only, no money is being made from running the game, and the gathering is private rather than a public or commercial event.
This exception applies strictly to private residences. It does not extend to rented event venues, restaurants, bars, hotels, office spaces, or any other commercial or semi-public location. And it does not apply to any event that has a charitable, commercial, or fundraising component. The moment a craps or roulette game moves outside a private home, it falls back under the prohibition.
Why This Matters for Event Planners
If you are planning a corporate event, charity fundraiser, holiday party, or any other social gathering at a venue in Minnesota, you need to work with a casino entertainment company that knows and respects these rules. Operating craps or roulette tables at a non-residential event in Minnesota is not a minor technicality — it is a legal violation that can create real liability for the hosting organization.
At Ace High Casino, we have been navigating Minnesota’s charitable gaming regulations since 1993. Every event we produce in the state is designed to be fully compliant. We never offer craps or roulette at Minnesota events, and we never create ambiguity for our clients about what is and is not permitted. When you book with us, you can trust that every table on your event floor is operating within the bounds of Minnesota law.
We also believe strongly that a great casino night does not require craps or roulette to deliver an exceptional experience. Our game lineup — anchored by 3-Way Action Poker, blackjack variations, Texas Hold’em, and our specialty games — consistently produces evenings that guests describe as among the best events they have ever attended. The energy, the competition, and the social connection that make a casino night special are fully present in every game we offer.
Want Craps or Roulette? These Neighboring States Permit Them
For organizations that are planning events in states surrounding Minnesota, or for guests who simply love craps and roulette and want to experience them at a casino night, there is good news: most of Minnesota’s neighboring states have more permissive charitable gaming frameworks that allow both games at licensed events.
Ace High Casino operates across the region, and we can offer craps and roulette at events held in states where they are legally permitted. Regulations vary by state, and specific licensing requirements apply, but both games are available for events outside Minnesota’s borders. Here is a general overview of how the surrounding states compare:
Wisconsin
Wisconsin permits a broader range of casino-style games at charitable and social events than Minnesota does. Both craps and roulette can be offered at licensed events in the state. Wisconsin’s charitable gaming framework requires appropriate licensing for the hosting organization, but the game selection available to event planners is significantly wider.
Iowa
Iowa’s charitable gaming regulations also permit casino-style events with a wider game selection than Minnesota allows. Craps and roulette are both available for licensed charitable gaming events in Iowa, giving event planners full access to the traditional casino floor lineup.
North Dakota
North Dakota has a well-established charitable gaming framework that permits casino nights with a broad game selection. Both craps and roulette are available for events in the state. North Dakota is also notable for the strength of its casino night culture, with a long history of charitable gaming events that utilize the full range of traditional casino games.
South Dakota
South Dakota permits craps and roulette at licensed charitable gaming events. The state’s regulatory environment is generally permissive toward casino-style entertainment, and event planners have access to the traditional casino floor experience including both dice and wheel games.
If you are considering an event in any of these states and want to incorporate craps or roulette, contact Ace High Casino to discuss your options. We will help you understand the specific licensing requirements for your location and design an event that takes full advantage of the broader game selection available outside Minnesota.
A Note on Casino Night Legality in General
Regardless of which state you are in, it is important to understand that casino night entertainment at corporate and charitable events is a form of social gambling — not commercial gambling. The key legal distinction is that no one is making money from the games themselves. Guests play with fun money chips that have no cash value. The entertainment company charges a service fee for providing tables, dealers, and equipment, not a percentage of any winnings.
This is the framework under which all legitimate casino night entertainment companies operate, in Minnesota and everywhere else. When games are offered as entertainment — with fun money chips, professional dealers, and a raffle or prize structure that is separate from the gameplay — the event falls within the social gambling exception that most states provide for.
The specific games permitted within that framework vary by state, which is exactly why craps and roulette are available at Ace High Casino events in Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota — but not in Minnesota.
Planning Your Event: What to Ask Your Casino Entertainment Partner
When you are planning a casino night — whether in Minnesota or a neighboring state — the most important thing you can do is work with a company that is transparent about what the law permits in your specific location. Here are the questions every event planner should ask:
- Are all of the games you offer legal for my event location? A reputable company will give you a direct, unambiguous answer.
- What documentation do you have for operating in compliance with state regulations? Experienced companies have clear answers about licensing and legal frameworks.
- If craps or roulette are not available in my state, what do you recommend instead? The best casino entertainment companies have strong alternatives that deliver comparable energy and engagement.
- Have you produced events in my state before? Local experience matters enormously when navigating state-specific regulations.
At Ace High Casino, we have been answering these questions honestly for over 30 years. We know Minnesota’s laws thoroughly, we operate in compliance with them at every event, and we design experiences that deliver exceptional entertainment within whatever regulatory framework applies to your location.
Ready to Plan Your Casino Night?
With more than three decades of experience and over 8,600 events produced, Ace High Entertainment is Minnesota’s most trusted name in casino night entertainment. We make the planning process easy, the night seamless, and the memories lasting.
Get in touch with us today:
Phone: 651-293-4444
Email: sales@aceentertainment.com
Website: aceentertainment.com
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