Minnesota House Delays Vote on Sports Betting Bill
Despite being listed as a top agenda item, the Minnesota House did not address the sports betting bill during an 11-hour session on May 15. Lawmakers will have another opportunity to discuss the bill on Friday, May 17, as the 2024 regular session approaches its adjournment on May 20.
Challenges in Passing the Bill
Bill sponsor Zack Stephenson faces challenges in securing enough votes to pass the sports betting legislation, now moving forward as HF 5274. Earlier this month, Stephenson integrated the sports betting bill with another that proposes banning historical horse racing (HHR) machines.
The Minnesota legislature is conducting extended sessions to address various critical issues, including paid time off and taxes. Wednesday’s session concluded at midnight, with plans to reconvene at 11 a.m. local time on Friday.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The current version of the sports betting bill proposes a 20% tax on gross gaming revenue and sets the legal betting age at 21. The bill also includes provisions for tribal exclusivity in digital wagering, meaning that betting platforms would need to be connected to tribal casinos.
Stephenson, a Democrat-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party member, has been advocating for legal sports betting for four sessions but has encountered obstacles, primarily due to conflicts between the state’s tribes and horse racing tracks.
Although the DFL holds a majority in the House, not all DFL members support the bill, necessitating bipartisan backing for it to advance.
Even if the bill passes the House, it faces uncertainty in the Senate, where the suspension of DFL Senator Nicole Mitchell has created a 33-33 deadlock between DFLers and Republicans.
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