1945: HF1303 is passed by the Minnesota legislature, legalizing charity bingo in the state.Īs for online gambling, there are no bills in the pipeline, so it’s unlikely that the state will regulate this activity anytime soon. Other notable milestones include creating the state lottery in 1989 and signing 7 compacts with Indian tribes in 1989. In 1982, the lawmakers enacted a constitutional amendment to authorize statewide pari-mutuel betting, which was the second stepping stone to creating a liberal gambling environment. From 1945 through 1981, the local lawmakers were pushing for several gambling bills, but they were all rejected by the state’s legislature. The first form of gambling was legalized in 1945 when the state permitted charity bingo.