Minnesota Supreme Court Allows Racetrack to Continue Dealer-Assist Table Games
Posted on: January 27, 2026, 08:08h.
Last updated on: January 27, 2026, 08:58h.
- Dealer-assist table games at a Minnesota racino can continue
- The Minnesota Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling on the stadium table games
The Minnesota Supreme Court has upheld a lower appellate court ruling that sided with the Running Aces Casino Hotel Racetrack in its defense of dealer-assist table games at its Columbus racino.
In 2023, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, which owns and operates the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Little Six Casino on its sovereign lands about 15 miles southwest of Minneapolis, filed a lawsuit against Running Aces and the Minnesota Racing Commission on claims that dealer-assisted table games violate tribal exclusivity on electronic gaming.
In a split 3-3 decision, the Minnesota Supreme Court’s deadlock upholds the lower Court of Appeals’ opinion that dealer-assist constitutes card-based table gaming operations and not electronic gaming. Running Aces is one of two racetracks in Minnesota that’s licensed to conduct card games.
Associate Justice Theodora Gaitas excused herself from the review because she was involved in the matter while serving on the Court of Appeals. She was appointed to the Supreme Court in April 2024 by Gov. Tim Walz (D).
What is Dealer-Assist?
Dealer-assist, sometimes called “stadium gaming,” allows many players to play a single table game in a stadium-like seating arrangement. A live dealer handles the physical cards or dice, while players make their bets on electronic touch-screen terminals. The physical cards or dice outcomes are displayed on video screens.
The terminals handle the payouts and allow the game to proceed faster. Dealer-assist games also allow for smaller bets and provide a sense of comfort for newer blackjack players who might be afraid of betting incorrectly and upsetting other players at the table.
At Running Aces, the racino has two dealer-assist games with Aces Live and Community Card Blackjack. Aces Live is a multideck five-card draw poker variant, with minimums as low as 50 cents per hand. Community Card Blackjack offers $1 blackjack with no commission or ante.
“This game allows the players to sit at individual terminals and play without any pressure,” the racino website reads.
Court Reasoning Withheld
Writing a summary on the case upholding the lower court’s ruling, Associate Justice Sarah Hennesy said that, because the court was split 3-3, there would be no opinion released.
Because we are evenly divided on the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s request to vacate the Racing Commission’s decision, we affirm the court of appeals’ decision on the remaining issues without expressing any opinion on the merits,” Hennesy wrote.
Running Aces attorney Evan Nelson was naturally pleased with the outcome.
“This is an important part of the card room for Running Aces. This is innovative technology that allows for maybe a different generation of people who want to play card games to interact with the games,” Nelson said.
The tribe, of course, felt differently.
“We believe these games are a clear violation of Minnesota law,” read a release from the tribe.
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