WINONA, Minn. – A southeast Minnesota state senator, Jeremy Miller, is taking a new stab at legislation to legalize sports betting. Miller, a Republican from Winona, said he will introduce a bill when the 2024 Legislature convenes to pick up where, in his view, a 2023 revision in state gambling law fell short. Miller calls this new version the Minnesota Sports Betting Act 2.0. His plan is complex. It attempts to appeal to diverse stakeholders on gambling issues with something for everyone. Key provisions:
> Allowing Minnesota’s 11 tribal nations to offer retail and mobile sports betting. This would include on-premise betting at horse tracks and professional sports venues.
> Taxing sports betting revenue at 15%. Proceeds would go to charitable gambling, to mental health and gambling addiction services, to youth athletics, and to attracting larger sporting events to the state.
> Restoring some controversial charitable gaming options that were lost in the 2023 Legislature. These include free plays and bonus games on electronic pull-tabs.
Miller said his 2.0 bill incorporates feedback from constituents, legislators, and a variety of stakeholders. Without such changes, Minnesota will continue to miss out on a growing $100 billion industry, Miller said.
Miller. Elected in 2010 from Senate District 26. Includes Houston and Fillmore counties, most of Winona County, a sliver of Mower County.
Verbatim
Miller, on his 2.0 bill: “So it brings the tribes, the horse-racing tracks and the sports teams all to the table to try to come up with a solution. There is a lot of demand for Sports betting in Minnesota. And there’s plenty of action to go around for all of the stakeholders. 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.”
Sports gambling law
In 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law that had banned most states from authorizing commercial sports gambling. Since then, 38 states have legalized sports gambling. But not Minnesota, Miller points out. “Minnesota is the only state in our region without a legal sports betting option,” he said. “This means Minnesotans must cross state lines to bet on games or find illegal workarounds with online vendors.”