Running Aces Harness Park in Columbus, Minnesota, combines a smoke-free card casino, seasonal harness racing, and a connected hotel northeast of the Twin Cities. Its strongest draw is a cards-and-racing getaway without driving elsewhere for the night. The catch: this is not a slot-machine casino or a sprawling resort. I would shortlist it for racing fans and visitors who value a smoke-free overnight stay, rather than machine players or travelers seeking extensive dining choices.
Running Aces at a glance
| Casino address | 15201 Running Aces Boulevard, Columbus, MN 55025 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Card casino, harness racetrack, and connected hotel |
| Casino hours | 24 hours daily; individual games, dining outlets, and amenities have separate schedules |
| Minimum gambling age | 18 |
| Slot machines | No |
| Poker room | No |
| Retail sportsbook | No |
| Hotel rooms | King rooms, two-queen rooms, king suites, and executive king rooms with a bar |
| Parking | Free |
| Smoking | Smoke-free casino and hotel |
| Telephone | (651) 925-4600 |
| Property website | Running Aces hotel and property information |
| Guide updated | October 17, 2026 |
What kind of casino is Running Aces?
Think racetrack and card casino with a convenient hotel, not a miniature Las Vegas resort. Indoor gaming gives the property a year-round purpose, while live harness racing supplies its most distinctive seasonal attraction.
That distinction matters more than any amenity list. If your casino evening involves wandering between slot banks, Running Aces is the wrong match. If you prefer dealer-led games and want to combine them with a race meeting, it makes considerably more sense.
The smoke-free policy is another meaningful advantage: it covers both the casino and hotel, not just selected rooms. For alternatives with a different gaming mix, see our guide to Minnesota casinos.
Casino games: what to expect
Slots and video poker
Running Aces has no slot machines. Do not arrive expecting penny slots, progressive slot banks, or a conventional video-poker machine selection. Poker-themed table games are neither video poker nor games played against other customers.
One guest reviewer describes disappointment after arriving without realizing how table-focused the casino was. That is an individual reaction, not a recurring complaint. To me, it illustrates an avoidable problem: choosing a casino before checking what kind of gambling it offers.
Table games
Blackjack and poker-based house games are the indoor draw. Games associated with Running Aces include Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. Check which tables are operating before traveling for a particular game, especially outside busy evening periods.
I would not build a gambling budget around an opening wager alone. Some poker-based games require additional bets to continue a hand, and optional side bets add expense. Read the posted rules and limits before sitting down. A casino being open around the clock does not mean every table is available around the clock.
Poker room
Running Aces has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room. Poker-based house games should not be confused with cash games or tournaments against other players.
Sportsbook
Running Aces has no on-property retail sportsbook. Its horse-racing identity does not mean there is a betting counter for football, basketball, or other general sports.
Harness racing: check the calendar first
Harness racing gives Running Aces an attraction beyond the casino floor. Horses pull a two-wheeled sulky carrying a driver, rather than carrying a mounted jockey as in Thoroughbred racing.
The Minnesota Racing Commission’s June 2026 meeting packet includes reports of Running Aces’ live race-night operations. Live racing is seasonal, so check the current calendar, first-race time, and event arrangements before leaving home.
My advice for a first visit: make the racing itself the attraction. You do not need a complicated betting ticket to enjoy watching it, and understanding a straightforward wager is more useful than buying an exotic bet you cannot explain.
Running Aces hotel: which room should you book?
The connected hotel makes an overnight outing more convenient. You can finish an evening on the property without adding a drive to another hotel.
The official room descriptions show differences worth considering beyond the bed configuration:
- Standard king: A refrigerator, microwave, coffee brewer, safe, and 65-inch television. Track-view versions are available, but not every king reservation includes that view.
- Two queens: Similar listed conveniences, with capacity for a larger party and track-view options.
- King suite: A track view, separate bedroom, larger living area, and kitchen with a stovetop, microwave, and refrigerator.
- Executive king with bar: A wet bar is the distinguishing feature. Do not assume it includes the suite’s separate bedroom and kitchen.
The published two-queen capacity is four people, compared with three for the standard king: one additional guest. For a group of four, that is a booking requirement, not merely a bed preference. Confirm sleeping arrangements as well as occupancy limits.
I would pay extra for a suite when the separate living space or kitchen would genuinely be used. A wet bar and a stovetop solve different problems, and neither is worth buying just because the room name sounds grander.
Included amenities and hotel policies
Running Aces lists free breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi, plus an indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, and business/event facilities. Its hotel amenities and policies include these practical details:
- Check-in: 4 p.m. Check-out: 11 a.m.
- Breakfast: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Pool: Hotel guests only. All-ages hours run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the final hour, from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., is listed for adults over 18 only.
- Pets: The hotel is not pet-friendly.
- Group gatherings: The lobby and breakfast area are closed to group gatherings from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Outside food and drinks: The property asks guests not to consume them in public areas.
Weekend breakfast starts later as well as finishing later. That matters if you are comparing an early Saturday departure with a leisurely Sunday morning.
Overnight costs: compare the final total
Free parking and breakfast add value, but they do not establish whether a particular room rate is a bargain. Compare the final reservation total, cancellation terms, room category, and included amenities with your alternatives.
Columbus documents a 3% local lodging tax in its February 2026 economic-development meeting packet. On an illustrative taxable room charge of $200.00, that local component would be $6.00. This is a budgeting example, not a quoted room rate, and it does not include every tax or establish the final booking total.
The comparison below brings together room features, included amenities, and policies that affect an overnight visit. It is a planning aid, not a room inspection or live price comparison.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Running Aces hotel: Included amenities relevant to trip costs | The hotel lists free parking, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast; compare final room totals rather than assuming separate charges for these amenities. |
| Running Aces hotel: Arrival and departure policy | Published check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 11 a.m.; an overnight reservation does not imply early room access on arrival day. |
| Running Aces hotel breakfast: Weekday versus weekend service | Breakfast starts and ends later on weekends than on weekdays, which matters when planning an early departure or a late morning after cards. |
| Running Aces hotel pool: All-ages versus adult-only access | All-ages pool access ends at 10 p.m.; the final published hour is for adults over 18 only. |
| Running Aces hotel pool: Hotel guests versus day visitors | The pool is limited to hotel guests, so a casino day visit does not include public pool access. |
| Running Aces hotel and casino: Indoor smoking policy | Both the hotel and casino are smoke-free, rather than only selected hotel room categories. |
| Running Aces hotel: Pet policy | The hotel states that it is not pet-friendly; travelers bringing pets should arrange suitable accommodation before committing to the trip. |
| Running Aces public areas: Outside food and beverage policy | Bringing food back to consume in public areas is restricted, an important distinction from simply having a microwave and refrigerator in the room. |
| Running Aces hotel gathering areas: Late-night group gathering policy | The lobby and breakfast area close to group gatherings overnight; the hotel directs guests to trackside seating or the connected casino bar instead. |
| Running Aces King Guest Room: Occupancy and track-view availability | The king category lists capacity for three people, with track-view rooms available rather than a track view guaranteed for every king room. |
| Running Aces Two Queen Guest Room: Occupancy and track-view availability | The two-queen category lists capacity for four people, with track-view options available. |
| Running Aces suite versus standard rooms: Kitchen and separate living space | The suite explicitly includes a track view, a separate bedroom, and a kitchen with a stovetop; standard king and two-queen descriptions list a refrigerator and microwave instead. |
| Columbus overnight stays: Local lodging-tax policy | City meeting minutes document a 3% local lodging tax adopted in 2019. This is a local component, not a published all-in hotel tax rate. |
| Running Aces hotel pricing: Advertised starting rate versus date-specific quote | HotelGuides displays an undated starting rate of $171.00, but requires travel dates for matching rates. Treat it as an advertised reference, not a guaranteed nightly price or final total. |
| Running Aces guest feedback: Staff and room-cleanliness praise | One displayed guest review praises friendly staff, clean rooms, and comfortable beds. It is a visitor report, not an independent inspection or a measured consensus. |
| Running Aces guest feedback: Card casino versus slot-player expectations | A displayed review illustrates the practical importance of explaining the card-focused casino before visitors make the trip expecting slot machines. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Local lodging-tax component on an illustrative $200.00 room charge | $6.00 | Allow for the local lodging tax when budgeting an overnight visit. This calculation covers only that tax component, not all taxes or the final booking total. |
| Published occupancy difference: Two Queen Guest Room versus King Guest Room | 1 people | The two-queen category accommodates a larger party than the standard king category. Compare occupancy limits as well as rates before booking. |
Research references: runaces.com 1, runaces.com 2, columbusmn.gov.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-17. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
Restaurants and bars
On-property dining makes it possible to keep the evening in one place, but I would treat it as a convenience rather than the main reason to book. The hotel lists the Casino Bar and Trout Air Express from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday. Menus and service arrangements can change.
Guest dining reports are mixed. Some praise smoked trout dip and sausage-and-mushroom flatbread, while others describe bland food or wish for more choices. That disagreement is more useful than calling the food uniformly good or bad: visitors identify dishes they enjoy, but this is not the strongest choice for several distinct restaurant experiences.
For a lower-cost meal, the official weekly specials list Tuesday meatloaf with mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn for $9.95, served from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check the offer before visiting, since specials and prices can change.
Check food-service hours separately from casino hours. An open gaming floor is not a promise of a full meal at any hour.
Guest praise and common limitations
Friendly staff receives repeated praise in the available guest excerpts. Room cleanliness also earns favorable comments. Comfortable beds appear in one account, while the review platform’s summary highlights spacious rooms and bathrooms.
These are subjective reports, not an inspection or representative survey. The individual comments are undated, so they should not be taken as a precise account of conditions on your travel dates.
The main trade-offs are straightforward: dining reactions differ, the table-focused casino can disappoint slot seekers, and live racing is not available every day of the year. None necessarily spoils the right trip, but each matters when deciding whether to come.
Parking, transportation, and visit planning
Running Aces is in Columbus near the Forest Lake area, northeast of the Twin Cities. Driving is the straightforward approach, and parking is free. Use the casino address for a gaming visit; hotel reservations may show the hotel separately at 15215 Running Aces Boulevard.
Allow extra arrival time on race or event nights. If arriving without a car, arrange transportation rather than assuming an airport shuttle is included. For accessibility needs, discuss the specific room, entrance, or seating arrangement with the property instead of relying on a general accessible designation.
Rewards program
Ask about Aces Rewards before playing and how table play is recorded. Compare any hotel offer with the public booking total, and read the restrictions. I regard rewards as a possible extra, not a reason to increase a gambling budget.
Who Running Aces is best for
Running Aces suits racing fans and visitors who want a smoke-free card-playing getaway with a connected hotel, free parking, and breakfast. The available guest comments offer encouraging signs about staff friendliness and room cleanliness, although dining reactions are mixed. I would choose it for a focused casino-and-racing visit rather than a sprawling resort weekend; slot players and travelers seeking a broad restaurant lineup should look elsewhere, and racing fans should match their dates to the live calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Does Running Aces have slot machines?
No. Running Aces is a card casino and harness-racing property, not a slot-machine casino.
Does Running Aces have a poker room or sportsbook?
No. It has no dedicated player-versus-player poker room or on-property retail sportsbook. Poker-based house games and horse-racing activities are different offerings.
What is the minimum gambling age at Running Aces?
The minimum gambling age is 18. Bring valid government-issued photo identification.
Is Running Aces smoke-free?
Yes. Both the casino and hotel are smoke-free.
Can day visitors use the pool?
No. Pool access is limited to hotel guests.
Does the hotel include breakfast?
The hotel lists free breakfast, served from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekends.
Is live harness racing available year-round?
No. Live racing is seasonal. Check the current calendar before arranging a racing visit.
Sources and planning note
Official room descriptions, property policies, regulatory reporting, dining specials, and city lodging-tax documentation are linked where discussed. Guest experiences are subjective. Before committing to travel, check your dates for racing, dining hours, available games, and final hotel reservation terms.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no dedicated poker room or on-site sportsbook.