Yesterday we got the news that Georgia had an outside shot at getting sports betting on the ballot this year. Alas, that ultimately did not come to fruition. However, today there is a much more promising news update in the sports betting world — Minnesota’s prospects of bringing sports betting up north are picking up some steam.
Minnesota is one of a handful of states that has held off from legalizing sports betting AND pick’em DFS apps, but a couple of new bills could bring one or both to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Both bills would have the 11 Minnesota tribes each getting a license to operate a retail betting location and an online sportsbook, which means there could be as many as 11 sports betting apps in Minnesota.
The state would tax sports betting revenue at 10% in one bill, and this is the bill that would also legalize DFS sites and apps. The other bill would tax at 20% and would not include DFS or live betting.
Despite Minnesota sports betting getting an endorsement from the Twin Cities’ top newspaper, there are few snags. For one, horse racing tracks are lobbying for more inclusion in the bills. Additionally, Minnesota’s No. 1 gambling-adjacent game, pull tabs, could take a major hit if sports betting becomes legal. There is a charity organization that is involved in the discussion of these bills that represents a number of charities that benefit greatly from pull tab revenue.
As a side note, through my many years of spending time with Minnesota family, that whole state loves the heck out of those pull tabs. On the one hand, that could suggest that Minnesotans will never abandon their favorite risk-involving pastime (maybe second favorite, after piloting boats too quickly through no-wake channels). On the other, maybe it’s the gateway into the state becoming a true center of sports betting mirth.
So what’s next? Minnesota’s legislature session goes until May 20, so there is quite a bit of time for things to be ironed out. The bill that includes DFS will go to a committee next week and still has a number of steps to take before receiving votes. The other bill has gone through committee but has not reached the State Senate yet.
Luckily, there is a lot of time this session for Minnesota sports betting to come to fruition, so cross your fingers.
