ST. PAUL, Minn. – State Senator Jeremy Miller’s signature 2024 bill in the Minnesota Legislature, to relax sports gambling regulations, is in trouble. Two Democrats say the Miller bill lacks “adequate safeguards” to prevent gambling addiction. Miller, a Winona Republican, has promoted his bill as a way to boost gambling, to promote tourism and and to raise stste revenue. Senators John Marty, D-Roseville, and Matt Klein, D-Mendota Heights, each have counter proposals. “I have very great concerns about letting predatory businesses come in and often take advantage of people’s risk of addiction,” said Klein. Marty’s bill would ban sports gambling on media whose audienes are 10% under the age of 21. “It’s going to mean less profit,” Marty said. Political observers doubt that the Miller plan is likely to pass unless he finds bipartisan support.
Sports gambling as issue
The Miller proposal would put in-house and online wagering via apps under control of tribal casinos. But Minnesota’s two horse tracks want in on the action. Backers reached a deal to share revenue with charities that depend on gambling revenues that were slashed by restrictions enacted last year on electronic pull-tab games. One version includes a ban on betting after games start to restrain problem gamblers. Senator Marty said his position won’t change without some safety nets. Other members of the majority Democratic caucus have expressed similar concerns.