Minnesota’s sports betting bill faced a major setback as lawmakers failed to advance it out of the initial committee. The tied vote in the Minnesota Senate’s State and Local Government Committee highlighted political opposition to legalization efforts. Senators from both the Republican and Democrat-affiliated Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party raised concerns about issues such as problem gambling and inadequate consumer protections.
Despite support from major gaming and sports stakeholders, including gaming tribes, horse tracks, charitable gaming organizations, and professional sports teams, the bill did not gather enough backing to move forward. The proposed legislation included a 22% tax rate on operator revenue and strong problem gambling funding and marketing restrictions, but this was not sufficient to win over all lawmakers.
The bill now sits in legislative limbo and may not have the political momentum to be reconsidered. Proponents of the bill, led by DFL Sen. Matt Klein, would likely need to make significant changes to secure enough support for the bill’s passage. If not revisited, Minnesota will continue to be one of the few states without legal sports betting options.
The future of mobile sports betting in Minnesota remains uncertain as lawmakers navigate the complex political landscape and differing opinions on the issue. The state’s failure to pass the bill for the third consecutive year underscores the challenges of legalizing sports betting in a divided legislature.
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