Minnesota Senator to introduce sport betting legislation bill

Minnesota might be looking at a future of online sports betting as the Republican Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) says he has plans to introduce a bill to legalize sports betting in the state. This is not the first time the bill will be introduced in Minnesota but it was shot down last year due to discrepancies between the House and Senate proposals.

Minnesota is among the few in the US where gambling is restricted and almost non-existent. This is one of the reasons Miller is calling for a legalisation of the activity. He told press people that because gambling is illegal in Minnesota, residents travel across state borders or even find illegal means to play. For Miller, legalising it will will make it “safe, structured, and regulated.”

“It’s time to authorize sports betting in Minnesota,” Miller said. “As other states move to authorize sports betting, Minnesota is falling behind. We are the only state in the region where it remains fully illegal to bet on sports. The Minnesota Sports Betting Act is a fair and responsible proposal to authorize sports betting here in Minnesota. This proposal is good for the tribes, it’s good for the horse racing tracks, it’s good for the professional sports teams, and most importantly, it’s good for the folks who would like to bet on sports here in Minnesota. This is long overdue and it’s time to get it done!”

One of the propositions of Miller’s bill is to allow in-person sports betting as well as online betting at casinos for Minnesota’s 11 Native American tribes. The same goes for the state’s two horse racing tracks and each professional sports team.

The bill will give the tribes “…option to receive one partnership mobile licence, allowing them to partner with a Minnesota professional sports team or a horse racing track to conduct mobile sports betting. The tribes could utilise the primary mobile licence, the partnership mobile licence, or both.”

Finally, tax revenue from the legalised betting will be used to fund charities, mental health, problem gambling support, major sporting events, and grants to youth sports equally.

Miller hopes to formally introduce the bill later though not soon.

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