Minnesota Senate to Discuss Sports Betting Bill

With the state Senate scheduled to discuss a sports betting bill on March 7, it appears that Minnesota is serious about legalizing and regulating sports betting. If Bill 1894 is passed, then regulated sports betting will be allowed for punters to enjoy in casinos as well as on mobile phones.

On February 28, Bill 1894 was introduced by five senators. The bill is a well-detailed, thorough document that includes clear rules and regulations, zoning laws, taxation rules, and more. It is thirteen pages long. The bill sets up mostly tribe-run casinos or racetracks that offer sports betting, and customers will be able to continue their gambling remotely by using their mobile phones and an internet connection. The bill mandates that only those who are above 18 of age will be allowed to avail the sports betting services. Moreover, punters are allowed to place their bets only on professional and/or collegiate sports. Placing bets on virtual sports is strictly not allowed.

If the bill is passed, then operators will have to pay a net revenue of 6.75 percent. However, the cost of a license is not specified in the bill. It is also stated that should the sports betting bill be passed, it would take effect from September 1, 2020.

Moreover, it won’t take very long for the bill to be passed if the Senate gives it the green light. This is because the House has already warmed itself up for the bill. Two representatives – Pat Garofalo and Nick Zerwas – have already gone ahead and put forward their very own sports betting bill. Garofalo said that till now, Minnesotans have had to go through an “unregulated process” if they wanted to place bets on sports events. If the bill is passed, then the gambling industry can come “out of the shadows”, so that consumers in the state can enjoy sports betting with the “proper protections” in place, which would allow for a fair, transparent and overall better gaming experience.

Where do Minnesota’s neighbors stand on sports betting?

Minnesota’s neighboring state, Iowa, has already had a sports betting bill passed by the state’s Senate subcommittee. However, since the mid-west is huge, they probably have to worry less about issues regarding cross-border traffic compared to the east, where it is a common occurrence.

Another neighboring state, South Dakota, on the other hand, still doesn’t look hopeful as its sports betting bill suffered a major defeat.