Minnesota Sports Betting

In April 2018, a draft of a sports betting bill was circulated in the Minnesota legislature. The bill included a clause to enable mobile betting. The Minnesota legislature adjourned in May without any action on the bill. Senator Roger Chamberlain, the head of the Senate Taxes Committee, told the media in December 2018 that the sports betting bill would be the center of discussions once the 2019 legislative session began on 8 January and could pass before the 2019 legislative session closes.

In February 2019, a sports betting bill was unveiled which proposed to define and legalize “sports pools” within state lines. A five-member Minnesota Sports Wagering Commission was part of the proposal which would have allowed the federally recognized tribes in the state to be licensed to offer on-site mobile wagering platforms and retail sportsbooks.

Since then, multiple sports betting bills were opposed or otherwise stalled.

In 2022, Representative Zack Stephenson pushed a bill through the House, but it hit a huge roadblock in the Senate as an amendment proposing the inclusion of two horse racing tracks proved to be a deal breaker for the tribes who want exclusive rights to offer sports betting.

In 2023, several bills surfaced with the aim of advancing Minnesota's journey toward legalized sports betting. However, they diverged on crucial aspects, such as the extent to which the state's Native American tribes, who possess casinos, would be granted exclusive rights to state licenses for operation.

In January 2024, Minnesota State Senator Jeremy Miller introduced the Minnesota Sports Betting Act 2.0, featuring adjustments informed by input from constituents, fellow legislators, and various stakeholders, with the hope of propelling the legalization of sports betting in Minnesota.

Within the bill, Minnesota's 11 tribal nations would be eligible for licenses to offer both retail and mobile sports betting. Additionally, license holders could operate retail betting at horse racing tracks or professional sports stadiums in Minnesota, provided they enter into partnership agreements with the respective track operator or sports team.

The proposed legislation also seeks to reintroduce certain charitable gaming options eliminated by a 2023 tax bill, such as free plays and bonus games on electronic pull-tabs.