Sen. Klein To Introduce Minnesota Sports Betting Bill This Year

Failed attempts to legalize Minnesota sports betting date back to 2019, but that’s not stopping state legislators from trying again in 2025.

Democratic Sen. Matt Klein will introduce a sports betting bill when the 2025 legislative session convenes on Jan. 14. 

Klein authored the most recent Minnesota sports betting bill in 2024, which failed to receive bipartisan support in the state House and Senate. Despite falling short, Klein expressed hope that progress in the 2024 legislative session will lead to success in 2025.

Bill requires bipartisan support

Despite having supporters on both sides of the aisle, the 2024 bills from Klein and Rep. Zack Stephenson failed to gain enough traction to pass. The 2024 legislation had a Democratic-Labor-Farmer Party majority in both houses but had its share of opponents within the party.

Republicans are mixed, too, and the House now has a 67-67 split. The DFL has a one-seat advantage in the Senate. 

No matter how you look at it, the bill will require bipartisan support to pass.

Republican supporters include former Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, and Democratic supporters include Reps. Stephenson and John Huot. 

Tribes, tracks key to Minnesota sports betting efforts

For Klein’s bill to gain bipartisan support, it will likely need to account for the wishes of both parties. 

The DFL wants to uphold tribal gaming exclusivity. Minnesota has 20 casinos owned by 11 tribes, and it wants those tribes to receive a fair share of sports betting proceeds.

Republicans want to ensure horse racing doesn’t get left in the dust.

Last year’s efforts addressed both concerns and drew the support of the tribes and horse tracks. However, time ran out before enough legislators could get on board.

Still, the progress left Klein optimistic about passing legislation in 2025. As of November, the tribes and horse tracks still support him.

Klein is also aware that prohibition does not prevent online gambling, especially given how common sports betting is today. Thirty-nine states now allow some form of legal sports wagering.

“The argument I always make is people are already doing it in illegal and unregulated markets, usually offshore markets. That’s only going to increase,” Klein told WJON News. “If we want a responsible and safe and taxable sports wagering process in Minnesota, we need to pass a bill.”

Informational hearing to predate the bill’s filing

Sen. and Finance Committee Chair John Marty (DFL) will hold an informational hearing the week before the bill’s filing. 

Wednesday’s hearing will feature experts on gambling addiction. The committee aims to discuss all the potential economic, health and social downsides of sports betting.

Marty has called the sports betting industry “predatory” and has spoken against sports betting and in favor of responsible gambling. Marty intends to introduce his own sports betting bill in the legislature, which would propose strict limitations for bettors and sportsbooks and focus on addressing gambling addiction.

Klein said of the issue, “There are people, Democrats, who are really concerned about gambling addiction, and family bankruptcy and devastation. I’ve put some real safeguards in the bill to try and answer those concerns. If we pass the bill as I’ve introduced it, it will be the safest sports wagering bill in the nation.”