ST. PAUL, Minnesota (FOX 9) – Minnesota House Legislators legislation unveiled On Monday, it would allow betting on college and professional sporting events placed from tribal casinos and mobile apps.
The author of the bill, State Rep. Zach Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, said he would hold a hearing Tuesday at the House Commerce Committee, which he chairs. Four members of the House, two Democrats and two Republicans, attended a Monday afternoon press conference on the bill.
The road to the passage to the Legislative Assembly is complicated. For years, Native American tribes in Minnesota have opposed legalized sports betting, but their stance has changed in recent months as 32 states have allowed the practice.
Stephenson’s bill allows bets placed in traditional tribal casinos and on mobile apps, which tribes could develop with outside companies. It calls for a 10% tax on net profits from bets placed on mobile. Tribal brick-and-mortar profits, as now, would not be taxed.
There is no official tax revenue estimate, but Stephenson and state Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, said $20 million a year would be a fair estimate. Of the revenue collected by the state, 40% will go to combating problem gambling, 40% to sports for young people with a focus on areas with high youth crime, and 20% to regulation and guarantee. sporting integrity.
Moments before lawmakers released their bill, the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association released a statement expressing openness, while pausing before full approval.
“The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association and its 10 member tribal nations support state efforts to permit sports betting both at tribal gaming properties and through online/mobile platforms and believe that tribes are best placed to bring this new marketplace to consumers across the state. MIGA and its members will monitor state legislation and look forward to working with other stakeholders,” the group said in its statement.
The Senate Republican who led sports betting efforts in this chamber reacted coldly to the House proposal.
“I welcome Democrats to the table, and we will work together to craft legislation that can achieve this,” said State Sen. Roger Chamberlain, R-Lino Lakes. “However, the offer in its current form will not give the consumer a good product. We need to expand the options so that consumers have the best possible experience.”
Gov. Tim Walz will sign a sports betting bill into law if it passes the Legislature, Walz’s spokesman said.
This story is growing and will be updated.
