The Legalization of Minnesota Sports Betting Remains Top Priority Among State Legislators

As many continue to wait and see whether Minnesota sports betting will be legalized this year, not much about what happens next is certain. However, we do know one thing for sure: The future of sports betting in The Land of 10,000 Lakes will be front and center for state officials.

The latest round of legislative sessions opened on Tuesday, January 14. As expected, the issue of sports betting in Minnesota yet again cracks the agenda. But this is not unique. In fact, it has been the case for multiple rounds of legislative meetings. And while many preach optimism heading into each session, The North Star State has now failed on multiple occasions to get gambling initiatives to the finish line.

Still, this time around may shape up differently. Legislators reportedly came close to an agreement during previous discussions. The framework of those talks remains in place right now. As such, not only are industry sources expressing Minnesota sports betting optimism, but it seems this bill may wind up being one of the state’s most pressing, if not their absolutely most pressing, issue on the agenda.

Officials Expected to Fast Track Other Issues to Focus on Minnesota Sports Betting

Of course, it can be difficult to discern legislative priorities before and so early into the sessions. So, this talk of importance qualifies as speculation. At the same time, state officials seem keen on fast tracking other issues so they can focus on Minnesota sports betting. 

As Corin Hoggard of FOX 9 KMSP notes, not many other bills are expected to move quickly or take up Congress’ time. That was not the case last year. The Minnesota sports betting debate did not heat up until the very end of the session. Many experts now insist that The North Star State would have legalized sports gambling if the state legislature had more time to do so. And, well, they are about to get it. 

Beyond the 2025 agenda being more conducive to Minnesota online sports betting talks, the bones of last year’s proposal remain intact. Negotiations are not expected to take place from scratch. On the contrary, most believe that state legislators will simply pick up where they left off.

If this is the case, and if approval was truly close in 2024, a Minnesota sports betting bill might receive the green light before the legislature session is halfway over.

Despite Rampant Optimism, The Legalize of Sports Betting is Not Consider a Sure Thing

Granted, just because Minnesota sports betting is both a priority and less encumbered by time constraints does not mean the latest push will be successful. There will always be opponents to online sports betting in the United States. Minnesota’s situation is no different. And as Hoggard writes, those against gambling amount to a significant faction:

“But there’s a bipartisan movement to stop it, too. The full costs of gambling go beyond financial wins and losses. ‘I've stolen from my daughter’s piggy bank,’ said an anonymous gambling addict. ‘I had my elderly grandma take out extra school loans for me. I’ve stolen over half a million dollars from past employers.’ Problem gamblers testified at a Senate Finance Committee hearing examining the potential dangers of legalized sports betting in Minnesota. Researchers connected gambling to increases in domestic violence and long-term mental health problems. ‘Gambling and addiction is as powerful as any opioid or other addiction,’ said Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville). "In fact, it's the highest suicide rate of any addiction."

“Sen. Marty pointed to evidence that about 2 percent to 8 percent of gamblers develop severe problems. His team of opponents blamed mobile gambling for the worst of it, comparing it to having a casino in your pocket. ‘There have been over 30 legislative hearings on sports betting bills in the last several years, and they've all focused on the mechanics of the bills, understandably, and also who profits from the bills – whether it's tribes or tracks or whom,’ Sen. Marty told FOX 9. "No hearings have focused on the harms, the economic harms, the social harms, the health harms because of it.’”

These are all important issues and talking points. Even the most dedicated Minnesota sports betting supporters should be interested in analyzing them. Speaking of which…

Minnesota May Become the Standard for Present and Future Attempts to Legalize Sports Gambling

Thirty-nine states, on top of the District of Columbia, now offer some form of legalized sports betting. Because it’s so prevalent, the industry is considered inevitable. Legalization among holdout states like Minnesota, California, Texas et al. are not matters of if. They are matters of when.

This may prove to be true. But consider the data that Senator Marty cites above. Extensive research is done on how legal sports betting impacts gambling addiction. But studies that tackle domestic violence, suicide rates and other ill effects are only now becoming standard fare. 

Having this information may increase the number of Minnesota sports betting detractors compared to a couple of years ago, when less was known about how legalization impacts the population. Failing that, the rise of mobile sports betting in the United States could become a target. If, as Senator Marty posits, online sports betting in the USA is the primary culprit behind societal downsides, states may seek a compromise. 

In Minnesota’s case, this means the legalization of on-site sports betting alone rather than allowing mobile wagering. Certain states already follow this blueprint. For example, this is the exact setup for sports betting in Wisconsin. But larger markets like Minnesota have always been expected to chase mobile legalization. That is how a majority of bets in the U.S. are processed. In turn, mobile betting is the biggest driver of revenue. 

Will Minnesota (and others) overlook the downsides in pursuit of the almighty dollar? Might we see a more gradual form of legalization, beginning with only on-site operators? Or will the latest data dissuade sports betting from being legalized at all? We’ll know soon enough.

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