Minnesota Indian Gaming Association Chairman Charles Vig, chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, owners of the Mystic Lake and Little Six casinos, recently sent a letter to Governor Tim Walz noting leaders of several of the 11 tribes that operate the state’s 18 Native American casinos would not offer sports betting if it is legalized and in fact will actively oppose such legislation.
Vig wrote, “The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association continues to oppose the expansion of off-reservation gambling, including the legalization of sports betting. While there is a desire by some to consider this matter during the present session, it seems that the public interest would be best served first by careful study of sports betting’s implications in this state, examination of other states’ experiences where sports betting has been legalized and thorough consultation with the large number of stakeholders interested in it.”
State Senator Roger Chamberlain, who sponsored a sports betting bill last year and said he plans to do that again this year, stated he was disappointed in the tribes’ position. However, he believes he can successfully negotiate with the tribes. “We met with them and while they’re not necessarily in alignment they are obviously concerned about losing their economic base, the economic engine. We understand that. We’ve reassured them that we’re not interested in harming that interest or jeopardizing tribal compacts. There’s no reason to shut out the rest of the state and the rest of the potential consumers and players and operators from taking part in a perfectly safe and legal business. We hope to get to a place where everyone can agree, and I think we can,” said Chamberlain, who chairs the Senate Taxes Committee.
One of the tribes’ concerns involves mobile betting. Under federal law, tribes may only offer gambling within their reservations’ boundaries, making online or mobile sports wagering off-limits, but not to non-tribal sports books. Chamberlain said his legislation will include mobile betting.
“In this economy and culture you need mobile access to be profitable,” he noted. He pointed out online betting also would make gambling available in rural and remote parts of the state lacking nearby casinos or commercial sports books.
Chamberlain suggested one solution would be for tribes to declare the gambling occurs not where a player’s phone is located but at the site where the computer server that processes the bet is located. “We can find our way around these problems and get it done,” he said.
State Rep. Laurie Halverson, chairman of the House Commerce Committee, which would consider any sports betting legislation, said, “I have yet to see language or have anything introduced.” If and when it does, she said she wants to have an information hearing so lawmakers can gather facts and listen to supporters and opponents. “I think we’re all in learning mode. When something is this new, that’s the legislative model typically. Things take time and we need to be deliberative about such major changes to Minnesota law.”
At a recent press conference, Walz said he would prefer to legalize and regulate sports betting following hearings and discussions. “I trust adults to make adult decisions. I also recognize that addiction comes in many forms, whether that be alcohol, tobacco or cannabis or sports betting and these can have societal consequences that are pretty devastating. If the legislature chooses to take that up, we’re certainly interested in working with them to get it right,” he commented.
