Minnesota Sports Betting

In April 2018, a draft of a sports betting bill was circulated in the Minnesota legislature. The bill included a clause to enable mobile betting. The Minnesota legislature adjourned in May without any action on the bill. Senator Roger Chamberlain, the head of the Senate Taxes Committee, told the media in December 2018 that the sports betting bill would be the center of discussions once the 2019 legislative session began on 8 January and could pass before the 2019 legislative session closes.

In February 2019, a new sports betting bill was unveiled that proposes language to define and legalize “sports pools” within state lines. It would create a new five-member Minnesota Sports Wagering Commission. The 11 federally recognized tribes in the state, which operate 19 gambling properties, would be the only ones that could seek licensure. The bill permits on-site mobile wagering platforms and retail sportsbooks.