Another Minnesota Sports Betting Bill Is Officially On The Table

With 2025 legislative sessions now underway across the United States, yet another Minnesota sports betting bill is officially up for consideration. The question, of course, is whether this one, unlike others before it, will actually be successful.

Many proponents of sports betting in Minnesota maintain outward facing optimism. They view previously failed attempts as a sign of progress. And to some extent, they are not wrong. There would not be repeated attempts to legalize Minnesota sports betting if it didn’t have a good amount of traction.

The new bill, known as the Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0, ensures this years-long push will continue. And in doing so, it suggests a higher probability of succcess than last time around. 

Whether that’s the correct line of thinking remains to be seen. On the one hand, last year’s push to legalize sports betting in The Land of 10,000 Lakers was considered close. And if another initiative is on the table, it stands to reason the latest effort will get even closer, if not outright get it done.

Still, a few key roadblocks remain. Will they be enough to derail legal sports betting proponents? Let’s find out.

Full Details on Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0

KROC 96.9 FM has a thorough breakdown of the Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0. Here are the most pertinent details:

“State Senator Jeremy Miller is leading the effort with his Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0, a proposal that would allow the state’s 11 tribes to run both mobile and in-person sportsbooks. If passed, the bill would impose a 20 percent tax on sportsbook revenue, potentially generating around $80 million annually—funds that would go toward tax relief on charitable gambling, major sporting events, horse racing improvements, and youth sports programs.

“On the sports betting side, supporters of the new bill argue that regulating the industry would help keep gambling money in the state while providing consumer protections. The American Gambling Association estimates that nearly $1.4 billion was wagered on this year’s Super Bowl, highlighting the sheer scale of the betting market.”

The 20 percent tax will seem high to some. But it is pretty standard for the industry. In fact, Massachusetts sports betting regulators want to double their current tax rate, bringing it north of 50 percent. If the latest Minnesota sports betting attempt fails, it will not be due to casino operators haggling over tax rates. 

Of course, this raises an interesting question: What are the primary roadblocks standing between Minnesot and legal sports wagering?

Sports Betting Obstacles in Minnesota Remain Largely the Same

Two issues have commonly undermined past Minnesota sports betting efforts. Those same concerns endure today.

First and perhaps foremost, we have the notion of tribal exclusivity. Despite online sports betting in the United States surging in popularity, the Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0 will only allow in-person wagering on tribal property. Individual Minnesota sportsbooks may be allowed to offer mobile betting sites. However, those Minnesota sports betting apps will only be accessible when customers are on casino/tribal property.

It remains to be seen whether there is a plan to incorporate Minnesota online sports betting over time. If there’s not, we may see certain officials—and online sportsbooks lobbyists—trying to scuttle the entire process. 

Beyond that, previous initiatives have fallen apart over the exclusion of racetracks. Minnesota tribes have gaming exclusivity in the state. They argue that should persist with the legalization of sports betting. Racetracks have often provided push-back to this line of thinking. They worry that there own in-person business model will be threatened by casinos having the ability to offer services that they cannot.

Whatever you make of gaming exclusivity, this is a fair point of contention. Even the tribes think so. In previous sports betting bills, they agreed to cut racetracks in on sports betting revenue. These racetracks just aren’t allowed to offer sports betting themselves.

Our guess is that this issue already got hashed out. Racetracks blanched at previous revenue-share offerings. But the lack of coverage surrounding their opposition this time around infers a certain complicity. Time will tell whether that’s accurate.

Will Voters Need to Way in on the Minnesota Sports Wagering Matter?  

This is a common question. And rest assured, it is a good one. Many states require voter approval during general elections to move forward with legal sports betting. This is mostly because the process requires a constitutional amendment.

Things are different in the case of Minnesota sports betting. As of now, they appear to just be amending tribal gaming compacts rather than the state constitution. That typically does not require a constitutional amendment. 

Look no further than sports betting in Florida or sports betting in Wisconsin as proof. They are just two examples of states that launched sports betting without needing voter input. 

Minnesota is seemingly traveling down the same path. However, the calculus will change if and when they integrate online sports betting into the equation. That effectively commercializes the changes in a way that mandates constituional amendments. And if they go that route, Minnesota must wait until November 2026 for voters to weigh in on the matter. From there, if the measure is successful, they can go through the rollout process.

Once more, though, this does not appear to be in the cards. Minnesota online sports betting yet again seems to be tabled. Does this make the latest push more likely to succeed? Or might we see online sports betting terms added onto the current proposal? We will know soon enough.

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