Minnesota’s bill to legalize sports betting still needs the blessing of the state’s two horse racing tracks to gain approval. Time to get the legislation passed is running out, with the session ending in less than two weeks.
The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Matt Klein, said he is optimistic a deal can be worked out with the race tracks before the deadline.
“We’ve got to find a way to make the tracks at least not openly oppose it,” Klein told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “We’ve got plenty of time.”
Klein said he hopes a change he introduced to the bill last week would help push the legislation along. The bill did get out of the Minnesota Senate committee and went to the Rules Committee. If it is approved there, it will go to the Taxes Committee.
Klein’s latest proposal calls for a tax of 10 percent of revenue. Of that amount, 30 percent would go to a fund for the tracks. The first year the amount would have a $20 million limit. After that, tracks would split $3 million annually.
It is Klein’s hope that will appease some democrats who have opposed an expansion of gambling. The bill does have the support of the 11 American Indian tribes.
Minnesota Indian Gaming Association executive director Andy Platto told the Star Tribune that the plan is fair to all of the tribes.
“Mobile sports betting levels the playing field among tribes which we see as a positive development,” Platto said.
Of those that have either voted against the bill or have reservations regarding it, the issue seems to be more money for the horse racing tracks. Officials at both tracks said they oppose the bill because they want more money.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is monitoring the progress but said he is not involving himself in the negotiations.
“We’ve said if they can get a bill to my desk, I’ll certainly sign it,” Walz told the Star Tribune.
