The North Dakota House last week first defeated and then a few hours later approved a sports betting bill on the last day before the mid-session break.
The bill, House Bill 1254, was the surviving bill of two that addressed sports betting. The first one would have limited sports book to professional sports. The bill that survived also includes college sports.
In the first vote the bill won the support of a majority, but not enough to send it to the Senate. The second vote the next day included several representatives who hadn’t been present for the first vote and who asked to vote again. The final vote was 52-38.
Rep. Michael Howe argued that residents are already betting on sports, but that regulating the practice would raise money for charities due to the state’s unique program where legal gaming helps fund charities.
The state’s constitution bans all gaming except charitable gaming, horse racing and the state lottery.
Opponents warned that legalizing sports betting would encourage tampering with athletic events and threaten the games’ integrity.
“I don’t think we’re going to gamble our way to prosperity,” declared Rep. Bernie Satrom.
The bill’s sponsor Jason Dockter said, “I will admit it is an expansion for gaming, but also, it’s already here.”
