Legal sports betting supporters have said this could be the year that Minnesota joins its neighbors in bringing the market to players around the state, according to a WCCO local news report. The current bill before state legislators has the support of key lawmakers, local Tribes and state charities.
Representative Zack Stephenson has drafted a bill that would allow for legalized betting on sports fantasy games, as well as regulated sports betting. The bill sets aside tax dollars gained from sports wagering that would fund compulsive gambling education and treatment programs.
A deal is also on the table that would increase sports betting taxes from 10% to 20%.
This is not the first time that regulated sports betting has been a topic of discussion among state lawmakers. Minnesota has considered opening its commercial market in recent years. A push to legalize sports betting gained some traction earlier this session but fizzled out until now.
Stephenson believes the bill has a good chance of passing with state legislators.
He told local news, "Well, I think momentum is building; I think we have a great chance. It's a difficult bill because gambling bills by their nature have to be bipartisan; there are Democrats and Republicans who will never vote for it.
“So, you have to assemble a broad bipartisan coalition and these days that is very difficult; but momentum is building."
No other sports betting bill in Minnesota has made it this far.
To date, more than 35 states have legalized sports betting since the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018. Minnesota’s neighbors are included in those states that have embraced sports wager since the laws have been changed.
