Two Minnesota lawmakers to introduce sports betting legislation

Minnesota Sen. Karla Bigham said on her Twitter account that she will "soon" be introducing legislation to legalize sports betting in the state. State Rep. Pat Garofalo also plans to reintroduce his own sports gambling bill in the House.

However, both lawmakers are in the minority party in each of their chambers, which could make passing legislation difficult. At a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce forum earlier this month, all four legislative leaders in the House and Senate were asked to say "yes" or "no" to whether they support legalized sports betting, KSTP Channel 5 News reports. Republican House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt said, "I don't think so." House Speaker Melissa Hortman, Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and DFL Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent all said, "No."

I will soon be introducing legislation to legalize sports wagering here in Minnesota! Stay tuned! More to come! @PowerTripKFAN & @johnkriesel get ready!

— Sen. Karla Bigham (@karlabigham) January 14, 2021

Moreover, Minnesota’s tribes traditionally have not embraced the idea of statewide mobile sports betting. “The members of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association remain opposed to any and all expansion of off-reservation gambling,” John McCarthy, executive director of the association, said in a statement, according to the MinnPost.

In neighboring Iowa, $1.3 million in state tax revenue was raised in the first four months after it was legalized in August 2019. That figure is likely to exceed $5 million in 2021.

Garofalo said 29 other states have already legalized sports gambling, adding that "there's no reason we have to be among the last" again. He said he thinks Minnesota could raise tens of millions of dollars off betting handles of up to $4 billion per year.