Minnesota is pushing two sports betting bills through the House and Senate but passage of the legislation is far from a sure bet.
The bills once again give sports betting exclusivity to 11 Native American tribes that are in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Some legislators believe the licenses should go to other entities, such as horse racing tracks.
Rep. Zack Stephenson, who is sponsoring the House version of the bill, disagreed. He contends the system has worked for decades and shouldn’t be changed.
“We have had a system of tribal exclusivity around gambling for 30 years, and it’s worked well,” Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, said when the House version of the bill was announced.
Tribes would be allowed to only have retail locations on tribal lands. They could, however, contract with sportsbook operators for mobile betting on apps and computers.
In a February 15 letter to Stephenson, Minnesota Indian Gaming Association Executive Director Andy Platto expressed his organization’s support of the plan.
“Were your bill to become law, MIGA Tribes believe the resulting mobile and retail markets operated by Minnesota’s Tribal Nations would not only support Tribes, but would also provide a well-regulated and accessible market for the state’s sports bettors and a competitive market that is important to our state’s professional sports teams and market partners,” Platto wrote.
In another letter supporting the bill, the CEOs of the state’s professional sports teams signaled their agreement with Native exclusivity for sports betting.
“We are happy to report that the state’s professional sports teams, including the Loons, Timberwolves/Lynx, Twins, Wild, and Vikings have come to an agreement with the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association in support of the draft sports betting bill,” they wrote. “As you know, the Tribes and teams have worked together for many months to find alignment on a bill that will create a vibrant market while providing for consumer protections. The teams have a strong desire to work with the Tribes as fellow stakeholders to help establish a vibrant market that features as many betting brands as possible. As such, the teams support tribal sports betting exclusivity, and empowering all tribes to offer statewide mobile sports betting.”
The issue of exclusivity, however, has been the reason prior bills did not pass. That could happen again in this legislative session.
A handful of Republicans could stall this bill. They are against the tribes getting exclusive sports betting licenses. They believe that the state’s two horse racing tracks should also be eligible.
Sen. Jeremy Miller is one of the legislators pushing for the horse racing tracks to be included. He recently introduced a bill that would include them.
“I don’t believe tribal exclusivity without something for the tracks has the votes to pass in the Senate,” Miller said recently. “We have two of the three major stakeholders that have an agreement. Now we just have to figure out a way to work in the racetracks. We’re not there yet, but I’m optimistic we can get it done this year.”
