The Minnesota Senate failed to pass sports betting legislation this past weekend before adjourning, meaning the state will now have to wait until 2023 for sports wagering to be legalized.
It is the third year in which sports betting legislation has failed in the North Star State following differences between House and Senate proposals on the matter.
Both Senate and House bills pushed for legalized in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and for online gaming to be overseen by the state’s tribes.
The Senate’s bill also included in-person betting at racetracks, as it would have permitted both Running Aces Racetrack in Columbus and Canterbury Park in Shakopee to offer retail sports wagering.
However, the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA) opposes any sports betting legislation that includes racetracks, and Governor Tim Walz has stated previously that any bill that wasn’t supported by the tribes wouldn’t be signed by him.
According to Gambling.com, the MIGA wrote in a statement to the Senate: “Through the stakeholder process, Rep. Stephenson, Rep. (Pat) Garofalo and others crafted a bill that accomplishes the goal of providing a safe and competitive marketplace for Minnesota sports bettors without threatening the viability of tribal gaming in the state.
“Therefore, nine of the 10 MIGA tribes offer their full and active support for the current version of HF 778, while one member of the association does not. If amended by the A-22 amendment, which expands commercial gaming, all 10 MIGA tribes would then oppose the legislation.”
