MN Sports Betting Bill Doesn’t Cross the Finish Line
The Minnesota sports betting bill didn’t make it across the finish line prior to the end of Minnesota’s legislative session.
An apparent deal was in place between all the major stakeholders (tribes, tracks, charities) on sports betting. However, the final hours of the legislative session was marked by consideration of mainly unrelated, but contentious, policy issues that exposed the partisan divide and left sports betting out of the final package of bills considered by the legislature late on Sunday night. State lawmakers have expressed optimism about the fact that a deal was in place and that it creates a solid foundation for consideration next year. However, there are several factors that could complicate “the deal” from remaining intact a year from now, including future litigation from horse tracks directed at the tribes, and a possible change in legislative leadership. iDEA will be communicating with stakeholders over the coming weeks.