ST. PAUL, Minn. – Proposed amendments to the Minnesota sports betting bill have sparked controversy among stakeholders, with some expressing strong opposition. Charitable gaming groups have now expressed support for the bill, and even legislators typically opposed to gambling are now seeking to establish safeguards rather than block the legislation. However, horse tracks remain a major obstacle to the bill’s passage, with the new amendments further strengthening their opposition.
Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids), a supporter of legalizing sports betting, has emphasized his opposition to so-called historical horse racing, a form of betting where players pick a horse without knowing the race they are betting on, and the computer randomly selects a race for them to bet on. Opponents argue that historical horse racing involves an element of skill, as players can see horse handicaps before making their selections, unlike in other states where it is purely based on chance.
Despite the opposition, the Minnesota Racing Commission approved historical horse racing on Tuesday, providing Canterbury and Running Aces with an additional revenue source as sports betting threatens their profits. Rep. Stephenson’s bill includes a provision to allocate $625,000 in sports betting tax revenue to the horse tracks annually, but the tracks remain adamant that historical horse racing will not be part of any sports betting legislation.
Other significant changes to the bill include the legalization and taxation of betting on e-sports and fantasy sports, as well as a provision allowing veterans organizations to use charitable gaming funds to maintain their buildings in an effort to preserve VFW posts.