A brief letter from a significant player in the sphere of legal gaming has changed the politics around the issue of sports betting in Minnesota. At least for today.
Last week, Charles Vig, the chair of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, wrote Gov. Tim Walz and the four legislative leaders to state the nation’s gambling tribes weren’t interested in adding sports betting to their offerings.
But he did not stop there. From the letter, Vig said the tribes will oppose passage of laws to add Minnesota to the growing list of states with legalized sports gambling. “The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association continues to oppose the growth of off-reservation gambling, including the legalization of sport gambling,” he wrote.
The seven casino-owning tribes in Minnesota combine a group of unusual allies in sports gambling betting statements this season, including groups like Citizens Against Gambling Expansion, which worries about the ill effects of gaming, such as addiction.
The tribes do not have a veto over non-tribal gaming, but their voices are powerful, especially among DFLers like Gov. Tim Walz and the new House majority. Under federal law, states need to bargain in good faith to permit tribes to offer the very same kinds of gambling that’s legal off-reservation.
Until a U.S. Supreme Court decision last spring cleared the way for countries to offer sports gambling similar to what is legal in Nevada casino sports books, that legislation wasn’t a problem in Minnesota. It is. By a 6-3 majority, the court ruled in Murphy v. NCAA that Congress exceeded its authority by preventing states from legalizing and regulating sports gambling. The case had been brought by New Jersey, which desired to provide an increase to its fighting Atlantic City casinos, and had tried a set of legal moves to end the federal ban against sports gambling in most states except Nevada.
In the vast majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito, Jr. wrote that Congress has the ability to pass laws to govern sports betting itself. However, when it decides not to, then every state is free to do so, and many have already done just that.
A draft bill circulated at the Minnesota capitol at the end of this 2018 session but no formal invoice was filed and no hearings were held. Supporters of the law, led by Sen. Roger Chamberlain, R-Blaine, have been preparing a bill for this particular session,.
Chamberlain, who is chair of the Senate Taxes Committee, was surprised and a little disappointed at the tribes’ position, which he found out about through Twitter. “We met together and while they are not necessarily in alignment they are obviously worried about losing their economic foundation, the economic engine,” Chamberlain said. “We understand that. We have reassured them that we are not interested in damaging that fascination or jeopardizing tribal compacts.”
State Sen. Roger Chamberlain
Courtesy of Senate Media Services
State Sen. Roger Chamberlain, R-Blaine, stated cellular gambling must be a part of the state law since that’s where much of the gambling action is.
But Chamberlain said he’s optimistic that it remains subject to negotiations, and he said he believes it could be a win for the state, the tribes and to get non-tribal betting. “There’s no reason to shut the remainder of the state and the rest of the possible consumers and operators and players from taking part in a perfectly safe and lawful firm,” he said. “We expect to get into a location where everybody can agree and I believe we could.”
Once it appears evident that tribes would be able to give sports gambling in their casinos if it’s made legal for non-tribal gaming, legal advisors note that sports gambling sets up some tough choices for tribes. The primary issue is that betting on sports — about the results of matches, on scores and other outcomes — is not especially lucrative for casinos. Another is that under federal law, tribes may only offer gambling over the boundaries of bookings. That makes the most-promising facet of sport betting — remote gambling online or through mobile devices — might be off limits to these, but not to non-tribal sports books.
Chamberlain said mobile betting must be a part of the state law since that’s where a lot of the gambling action is. Part of the rationale for legalizing it state by state is to capture some of the stakes now made illegally.
“In this economy and culture you require mobile access to be profitable,” Chamberlain said.
Online betting would also make gaming available in remote and rural areas of the state which may not have casinos or even industrial sports books nearby. 1 possible solution for the tribes is to announce the gaming takes place where a player’s telephone is, but where the computer server which processes the wager is located. That is far from resolved law, however.
“We can find our way around these problems and get it done,” Chamberlain said.
Vig is chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota, which owns the Mystic Lake and Little Six casinos, did not close the door on eventual tribal interest in sports gambling. He did, however, ask the state to proceed gradually.
“While there is a desire by some to consider this matter during the present session, it seems that the general public interest would be best served first by careful analysis of sports gambling’s implications within this nation, evaluation of other nations’ experiences where sports betting has been legalized, and thorough consultation with the high number of stakeholders interested in it,” Vig wrote.
A spokesman for the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association said leaders were not available for interviews and that Vig’s letter are their only statement on the problem.
State Rep. Laurie Halverson
State Rep. Laurie Halverson
The seat of the home committee that would consider any sports betting bills said the tribal institution’s letter does not change her position on the problem. Rep. Laurie Halverson, DFL-Eagan, stated that there are still no patrons within her caucus pushing a statement. Ever before the tribes left their position known, Halverson stated she planned to be cautious and deliberate on the subject.
“I’ve yet to watch language or have anything introduced,” she said.
But she expects laws will surface, and that she wishes to possess at least an information hearing so lawmakers will understand the consequences and listen out of both backers and competitions. “I think we are all in learning style,” she explained. “When something is that brand new, that is the legislative model typically. Things take time and we need to be deliberative about such major modifications to Minnesota law.”
In a press conference Wednesday, Walz said his fundamental position on the problem is to legalize and regulate. But he said that should come just after a process of hearings and debate. “I expect adults to make mature decisions,” he explained of gaming. “I also recognize that dependence comes in many forms, whether that be alcohol, tobacco or cannabis or sports betting and those can have societal consequences which are pretty catastrophic.
“When the Legislature chooses to accept that up, we are definitely interested in working with them to make it right,” Walz said.

Read more: sportsavenue.info