Minnesota sports betting is a hot topic as the state legislature convenes for its 2024 legislative session. During this session, which kicked off this week, lawmakers are set to consider two different MN sports betting bills.
One Minnesota sports betting bill was considered during the 2023 session. The Minnesota Sports Betting Act failed to get the necessary support a year ago. However, there’s considerable momentum to legalize the industry this time around.
More on the two Minnesota sports betting bills
Sen. Jeremy Miller filed the Minnesota Sports Betting Act 2.0 in January. Under the legislation, many different stakeholders would be able to get in on the action.
That includes Minnesota tribes, which hold considerable power over the state’s gambling industries. However, it would also allow in-state racetracks, and Miller says, in a perfect world, access would be expanded further.
“My preference would be to give the tribes a license, as well as the tracks, the (professional) teams and even the charities,” Miller said in a KARE 11 report. “The reality is, the votes aren’t there in the legislature right now to make that happen, so instead of focusing or complaining on what’s not possible, with the 2.0 proposal I really wanted to focus on what is possible.”
Sen. Matt Klein, meanwhile, is working on another piece of legislation with an operator-friendly 10% tax rate. He worked on a bill last year, but the session ended before it could make any progress. Unlike Miller’s bill, Klein’s would keep any Minnesota sports betting licenses exclusively to tribal applicants.
Will Minnesota sports betting be legalized this year?
Nothing is a certainty, and there are still plenty of hurdles for each bill to clear. However, bipartisan support for a solution is clearly present. As a result, lawmakers believe that the country’s best sportsbooks could soon be coming to the land of 10,000 lakes.
“Minnesotans want this, Republicans want this, Democrats want this,” Klein said in the KARE 11 story. “Senator Miller’s bill was a serious effort at finding a solution this year, and we’re hearing that from all interested parties – the tracks, the tribes – people want to get this done and they want to get it done this session.”
Governor Tim Walz concurred, stating that the main barrier to legal sports betting in Minnesota is finding a bill that works for all stakeholders.
“I think the issue still is, can they get a bill through the House and the Senate that meets all the constituency needs?,” Walz said. “If they do, I’ve said I will sign it.”
