Despite state politicians pushing for a deal to legalize sports betting in the final hours of Minnesota’s 2024 legislative session, the effort came up short. Minnesota won’t legalize betting apps in 2024.

“We’re going to come up just short on the sports betting bill this year,” Rep. Zack Stephenson posted late Sunday night on social media. “But in the last few days we proved that we could find a deal that all the major stakeholders could live with. Tribes, tracks, charities… That’s meaningful progress that can be a foundation for the future.”

Stephenson spearheaded efforts to legalize sports betting in the state. A bill filed by Stephenson earlier this year would’ve given the state’s 11 tribes exclusive access to online sports betting licenses. Sports betting would’ve been taxed at 20%, and the legal betting age in the state would’ve been 21 years old.

While Stephenson said progress was made in an effort to bring numerous stakeholders together to support a bill, that’s not much solace to state residents eager to place wagers. The news of the effort’s failure came shortly after the Minnesota Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals with a win over the Denver Nuggets.

Minnesota bettors won’t have access to legal betting apps for the upcoming NFL season and likely next year’s NBA season as well. Even if lawmakers legalize sports betting in 2024, it usually takes at least a few months to go from legalization to the launch of betting apps.

Minnesota joins a growing list of states with failed attempts to legalize sports betting this year. Lawmakers in Georgia and Mississippi made notable efforts to bring legal mobile betting apps to their respective states, but neither effort passed the finish line.

Missouri’s effort to legalize remains possible, as a ballot initiative driven by the state’s professional sports franchises has made progress in the first half of 2024. Some polls suggest voters will support the legalization of sports betting in Missouri, should the question reach the November ballot.

While North Carolina didn’t legalize sports betting in 2024, the Tar Heel State’s sports betting market went live in March.

Industry stakeholders anticipate additional efforts to legalize sports betting in 2025, including a likely push in Texas.