Minnesota To Help Bring Legal Sports Betting To The Midwest

• MN SF 1894 will be discussed Thursday at 8:30 am in the Senate Tax Committee.
• Tax Committee Chair Senator Roger Chamberlain (R- Lino Lakes) is also the Chief Author of the bill.
• SF 1894 would authorize sports betting in tribal casinos, racetracks, and with an online platform.

Minnesota legislators want to see the Midwest become the next wave of states legalizing sports betting and are fully in support of SF Bill 1894.

With the discussion scheduled to start in the Senate Tax Committee at 8:30 am on Thursday, SF 1894 would permit the state to offer sports betting through multiple licensed outlets.

With discussion, comes changes to the bill’s text; however, as the bill reads, any person aged 18 an older can participate in the hobby unless the person is on the Minnesota Sports Wagering Commission, works for the Department of Public Safety, is an employee of a licensed operator, or has any connection (family included) to a collegiate or professional sports team.

SF 1894 would allow for single-game wagering, including straight bets, parlay cards, proposition wagers, or any other commission-approved sporting event. E-sports and virtual events are considered prohibited wagers.

The locations for legal sports betting in Minnesota would include the near two-dozen casinos operated under the state-tribal compact, the two state-operated horse racing tracks, or with a licensed online operator.

The bill has moved quickly to the Tax Committee, after only one week between its first reading and the first discussion.

Minnesota is also considering HF 1278, which has spent two weeks in the House’s Commerce Committee without any action being taken. HF 1278 does not permit mobile wagering.