Minnesota committee approves sports betting bill

The Finance and Mobile Committee has voted 7-5 to advance a sports betting bill that could allow mobile wagering in the state.

US.- The Minnesota House State Government Finance and Mobile Committee has voted 7-5 to advance a sports betting bill that could allow mobile wagering in the state. Last week, the bill passed the Commerce Committee. It now heads to the Judiciary Committee.

Bill HF 778 will get at least one more amendment. In the original bill, the legal age to place a bet on sports is 18. Bill sponsor representative Zack Stephenson will bring an amendment to the next committee to raise the minimum age to 21.

The bill would allow wagers at tribal casinos and on mobile apps, which tribes would be able to develop with commercial operators. The bill would allow up to two master mobile sports betting licences, valid for 20 years, to organisations comprising two or more Minnesota Indian Tribes.

The bill proposes a 10 per cent tax rate for mobile bets made off tribal land. Stephenson and state representative Pat Garofalo said estimated tax revenue would be $20m. Of the revenues collected by the state, 40 per cent would go toward addressing problem gambling, 40 per cent to youth sports with an emphasis on areas with high juvenile crime, and 20 per cent to regulatory efforts and ensuring athletic integrity.

Critics of a bill have warned legislators that it would worsen problem gambling. Anne Krisnik of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition told a House committee: “We know that operators are going to do a great job of talking about the entertainment value of gambling, but we need to make sure that Minnesotans understand what’s at risk”.

See also: Minnesota lawmakers present sports betting legislation