The Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee recently passed a bill authored by state Rep. Tim Sanders that would ban the state lottery from selling tickets online, at gas pumps or ATMs. The bill, which also includes provisions related to charity gambling, will go on to the full House. Similar legislation also is moving through the Senate committee process. At issue is lawmakers’ concern that the lottery started the new buying platforms without legislative permission.
Governor Mark Dayton claims the bill is designed to protect gambling interests against state lottery competition and would expose the state to lawsuits from vendors and harm ticket sales going forward. He vetoed a similar measure last year and has said he will veto it again this year, although talks with legislators are continuing and some lawmakers are urging their colleagues to seek a compromise rather than provoke a veto. Dayton has indicated he’s open to negotiation over the bill because, he said, it’s not worth “fracturing relationships with the legislature” over the issue.
The lottery has generated $2.4 billion for the state since it began, with proceeds split between the general treasury and environmental programs.
