Third Minnesota Sports Betting Bill Focuses On Problem Gambling
· 2024-04-04

Third Minnesota Sports Betting Bill Focuses On Problem Gambling

A third bill to legalize sports betting in Minnesota was filed Thursday by Sen. John Marty, and the legislation comes with a large tax rate and a heavy emphasis on problem and responsible gambling.

Marty’s bill, SF 5330, features a minimum tax rate of 40%, a jarring difference compared to SF 1949 (20%) and HF 2000 (10%). The bill will allow up to 11 sports betting apps to go live in the state, with an open application process for the operator licenses.

The other two bills tie license access to the state’s tribes. It’s unlikely that Marty’s bill will garner tribal support without including a provision that guarantees them licenses. The bill does not allow for historical horse racing, and the lack of any guaranteed inclusion of the state’s horse racing tracks could be an issue in garnering widespread support.

Marty’s bill, like SF 1949, prohibits in-game wagering. The bill also includes language that would require geofencing around the state’s schools, prohibiting wagering on both elementary school properties and college campuses.

The bill also calls several provisions requiring operators to offer default betting limits and cooling off periods for bettors.

Tax revenue focuses on responsible gambling and problem gambling treatment measures, with 50% of revenue going to the commissioner of human services. Of that 50%, half of it goes toward a compulsive gambling treatment program. The other half is used for problem gambling public awareness and education measures.

Another 25% goes to the commissioner of education to be used for addiction and mental health services in public schools. The final 25% goes to the state’s general fund.

Marty has been adamant throughout the legislative session that a sports gambling bill should focus on problem and responsible gambling measures.

“Any sports betting law should include a heavy focus on preventing problem gambling and protecting minors, including young athletes,” Marty said in a statement in January. “The legislation needs to acknowledge the devastating economic, social, and mental health impacts – including suicide risks – on many bettors and their families, as well as the impact on the integrity of sports and the risks to athletes.”

Minnesota’s legislative session ends on May 20, giving legislators well over a month to come to an agreement on the best way to move sports betting forward.

None of the three bills have passed through their chamber of origin, however. There’s significant progress still needed for each bill to become law, and a House committee discussion Wednesday surrounding HF 2000 shows there are major disagreements between some legislators.

Control of licenses is a key debate in the legalization of sports betting in Minnesota. The state’s tribes and horse racing tracks are at the center of the argument, and the inability to please both sides has stalled sports betting legislation in Minnesota in previous years.

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