A proposed bill to legalize mobile sports betting in Minnesota faced a setback after failing to advance out of a key legislative committee. Despite support from stakeholders in the gaming and sports industries, the bill encountered opposition from lawmakers concerned about problem gambling and the bill's provisions. The bill's future remains uncertain, requiring potential amendments to gain traction in the legislature.
Minnesota's hopes for legalizing mobile sports betting suffered a setback as a key bill stalled in the state legislature. The bill, proposed by DFL Senator Matt Klein, failed to advance out of the Minnesota Senate’s State and Local Government Committee on Thursday, facing a 6-6 vote. This outcome reflects the ongoing political divisions surrounding sports betting legalization in Minnesota.
While the bill had garnered support from major stakeholders in the state's gaming and sports industries, including the state's 11 Native American gaming tribes, pro sports teams, and charitable gaming organizations, it encountered strong opposition from both Republican and DFL lawmakers. Concerns about problem gambling, the potential impact on charitable gaming organizations, and the tax structure of the proposed legislation fueled the dissent.Opponents of the bill, including DFL Senator Erin Maye Quade and Republican Mark Koran, raised concerns about the addictive nature of live betting and the lack of sufficient safeguards for vulnerable populations. They also questioned the bill's provisions regarding deposit limits, push notification authorization, and the business model of mobile sportsbook operators. Senator Klein, however, argued that the legislation provided crucial consumer protections unavailable through illegal and offshore betting platforms. He emphasized the bill's potential to generate new revenue streams for the state's charitable gaming providers, horse tracks, and Native American gaming tribes. The bill proposed a 22% tax rate on operator gross gaming revenue, one of the highest in the country, and included comprehensive problem gambling funding and marketing restrictions. Despite these measures, the bill failed to secure the necessary votes to advance. The legislation's future remains uncertain. It may require significant amendments to gain traction in the legislature. Any substantial changes, particularly to the tax structure or marketing restrictions, could jeopardize the delicate coalition of stakeholders that had worked collaboratively on the bill. If it is reconsidered, the bill would still need to pass through five additional Senate committees and the full Senate floor before moving to the House of Representatives, where it would face a similar legislative process. If lawmakers do not revisit the bill, Minnesota will have failed to legalize mobile sports betting for the third consecutive year, remaining one of only 11 states without any form of legal sports wagering
MINNESOTA SPORTS BETTING LEGISLATION BILL COMMITTEE PROBLEM GAMBLING TAX RATE CHARITABLE GAMING STALLED
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