Minnesota Sports activities Betting Invoice Progresses, However Legalization Odds Slim
Minnesota sports activities betting laws superior in a Senate committee this week. However with solely days remaining earlier than the state legislature is to adjourn for 2022, the percentages are slim that playing can be expanded this yr.
Minnesota Senator Roger Chamberlain speaks with the media concerning state taxes in February of 2020. The state lawmaker desires to legalize sports activities betting at Minnesota tribal casinos, in addition to the state’s two horse racetracks. (Picture: Getty)
State Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes) lately launched a sports activities betting invoice that shortly garnered 5-4 assist within the Senate Finance Committee. However Chamberlain’s invoice differs considerably from a sports activities betting statute that has gained favor within the Home.
Home File 778 would permit Minnesota’s 11 federally acknowledged tribes to function sports activities betting at their casinos, in addition to on-line with an accepted third-party vendor like DraftKings. Chamberlain’s sports activities betting statute does the identical, however would moreover present retail and on-line sports activities betting privileges for the state’s two horse racetracks.
“We’re very blissful to assist defend the tribes. I at all times have been keen to try this. However we can’t permit exclusivity on this case,” Chamberlain stated of his sports activities betting regulation that features the horsemen.
“This model is sweet for tribes, it’s good for tracks, and most significantly, it’s nice for customers,” the Republican lawmaker continued. “It offers Minnesotans gaming choices at brick-and-mortar areas and on-line distributors. It respects the Tribal Nations and supplies a income stream to the state. It’s time to get this finished.”
Session Countdown
Minnesota’s 4 neighboring states — North and South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin — all have authorized sports activities betting up and operating. Sports activities betting can be authorized north of the Canadian border in Ontario.
Whereas there’s ample assist within the Minnesota Home to authorize sports activities playing, a full Senate vote on the expanded playing has not but been held.
Time is of utmost significance, because the Legislature nears its 2022 session finish. The Senate and Home are scheduled to adjourn on the finish of enterprise on Monday, Might 23.
Chamberlain says his fellow colleagues ought to act shortly to get sports activities betting over the end line.
With the transfer by Wisconsin to legalize sports activities wagering, Minnesota is now the one state in our area with no authorized possibility,” Chamberlain defined. “This implies Minnesotans should cross our borders to guess on video games or discover unlawful workarounds with on-line distributors.
“Legalizing betting within the state would imply Minnesotans can guess from their very own yard and know they’re doing so in a protected method,” he concluded.
Tribal Opposition
Minnesota’s native tribes preserve a monopoly on playing except for the state-run Minnesota State Lottery. Tribal leaders are looking for to take care of that established order relating to playing on sports activities.
The Minnesota Indian Gaming Affiliation (MIGA) says permitting horse racetracks to take part in sports activities betting is a nonstarter. The tribal gaming group is supportive of the Home sports activities betting measure that maintains tribal management on playing.
“Home File 778 relies on a recognition that tribal gaming has an unblemished popularity and experience in conducting playing, and thus entrusts tribes to solely function as sports activities betting license holders,” a MIGA letter to the Minnesota Senate learn. “However to be clear, MIGA has persistently opposed the growth of non-tribal business gaming and can proceed to take action.
“This opposition seeks to guard the gaming business that right this moment serves because the important tax base tribal governments and communities depend on,” the MIGA assertion ended.
