Minnesota’s Sports Betting Push Gets a New Shot with H.F. 1842

A Framework Built to Last

Introduced by Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope), H.F. 1842 is a detailed playbook to drag Minnesota’s sports betting scene out of the shadows. The goal is to take bets already happening on sketchy, unregulated platforms and lock them into a system that puts consumer safety and smart play first.

“We’re not inventing betting here—it’s already out there,” he’s argued, pushing for a setup that keeps things legit. The bill definies everything from “wagers” to “esports events” and lays out rules for operators, platforms, and service providers.

It caps mobile betting licenses at 11, likely a nod to the state’s 11 tribal nations, sets a 21-and-up age limit, and spells out how bets can roll.

Operators need to jump through hoops: background checks, no license transfers, and a three-hour hold on using fresh deposits for wagers.

Responsible Gaming Takes the Lead

Rep. Liish Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth) has been vocal about the guardrails, spotlighting tribal support and a focus on fairness. “Respecting tribal sovereignty while building a competitive, regulated market is non-negotiable,” she’s said, framing H.F. 1842 as a balance of opportunity and oversight.

The bill bans ads targeting kids under 21 or excluded bettors, cracks down on insider bets, and lets folks self-exclude with ease. Operators have to keep cash on hand for payouts and log every bet: personal details, amounts, times, and locations, for 3.5 years, sharing data with sports bodies and the University of Minnesota for integrity checks and research.

Violations mean fines or jail time, and audits keep everyone honest. Tax-wise, net betting revenue gets hit with a levy, funneled into charity tax breaks, horse racing boosts, addiction treatment, amateur sports, and big-event marketing.

Tribal Ties and a Senate Stumble

The bill’s got roots in last year’s near-miss S.F. 757, which almost cleared the Senate in 2024 before stalling in February 2025 with a 6-6 committee split.

That version won over Minnesota’s tribes, racetracks, charities, and pro sports franchises, and H.F. 1842 builds on it. Tribes are front and center, poised to snag operator and platform roles, with the state open to negotiating compacts to seal the deal. It’s a nod to their gaming legacy while roping them into a mobile future.

The House sees a shot here with a 67-67 partisan tie, Frazier and Kozlowski reckon bipartisan vibes could push this through. They’re banking on talks with stakeholders to iron out kinks as it winds through committees.