Montana lawmakers are moving three sports betting bills through the legislature. Last week the House passed HB 725, making it the second bill the House has sent to the Senate this year.
Both bills were assigned to the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee. That chamber approved two bills and sent them to the House.
This is a different approach for approving of bills. Instead of considering one bill and amending it multiple times, the legislators are moving three different bills, one putting sports book under the lottery, another under the attorney general and the third under the horse racing board.
If all three pass, and if Governor Steve Bullock signs all three, sports betting kiosks could spring up at multiple locations at bars, restaurants, and even convenience stores, as long as they are licensed. There is little or no opposition to any of the bills. Most of those in favor of sports betting spoke in favor of all three bills.
The legislative session ends April 20 and the legislature won’t meet again for two years.
In a separate but related development the Italian gaming operator and technology supplier Newgioco Group has penned a deal to supply sports book services to
the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Montana. This is Newgioco’s first contract outside of Italy.
Subject to approval by Montana regulators, Newgioco will deploy its ELYS sports betting platform at the Northern Winz Casino in Box Elder.
The casino’s general manager, Raymond Parker, told iGaming Business, “After thoroughly exploring several betting providers, we are extremely pleased to have selected Newgioco to provide Class 1 betting solutions for our tribal casino.”
Newgioco’s “unblemished track record of regulated sports betting and virtual gaming operations in Europe,” played a major role in their selection, said Parker.
Newgioco CEO Michele Ciavarella told iGaming Business, “While we await a decision on sports betting in Montana and many other states, this united partnership with the Chippewa Cree allows us to pioneer a unique library of Class 1 indigenous games so that tribal casino patrons can bet on their favorite games in a safe, regulated environment.”
