Hearing Held In Advance of Sports Betting Bill Being Introduced in Minnesota

ST. PAUL (KVRR) — Attempts to legalize sports betting in Minnesota have been proposed in the state Legislature every year since a Supreme Court ruling in 2018 paved the way for states to decide.

But in the end the proposals ultimately failed to gain lawmaker’s approval.

But lawmakers are about to get another proposal.  So will this be the year it gets done?

An informational hearing was held in advance of the start of the session in St. Paul.

It covered the economic, health and social harms over online sports betting.

“So it’s become a cliche now in American culture, we say oh the casinos the lottery whatever, the house always wins! House always wins! And we all laugh if off like what does that mean? It means you’re going to get beat over the long-term,” Les Bernal, the Stop Predatory Gambling National Director, told the hearing.

Sen. Matt Klein is in favor of sports betting.

The Democrat from Mendota Heights will introduce a sports betting bill when the session convenes on Tuesday.