Minnesota Unveils New Sports Betting Bill With Support From Local Teams

Minnesota sports betting could become a reality in the near future! With a new betting bill just introduced, the Land of 10,000 Lakes might have legal sports wagering sooner rather than later. 2022 was a major year for sports betting launches, with New York, Maryland, Louisiana, Ontario, and Kansas all rolling out sports wagering.

And 2023 is off to an excellent start, with Ohio sports betting going live on New Year’s Day and Massachusetts sports betting expected to be available in the coming weeks. With new legislation looking to gain steam, here’s what you need to know about the future of Minnesota sports betting.

New Minnesota Sports Betting Bill Announced

The latest Minnesota betting bill has just been revealed. The bill, which comes from Minnesota State Representative Zack Stephenson, puts extra emphasis on tribal collaboration.

According to Minnesota Public Radio News, the proposed legislation would allow for not just mobile sports betting, but also retail sports wagering at tribal casinos. Interestingly, Stephenson’s intent with the sports betting revenue in the state would help everything from problem gaming assistance and betting oversight to youth sports programs.

The bill has already received support from some of the top sports franchises in the area. A letter in favor of the bill’s tribal involvement has received signatures from the Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx, Minnesota Vikings, and Minnesota Twins.

If the bill passes, you can expect mobile sportsbook apps to become available, with tribal casinos such as Northern Lights Casino and Event Center and Shooting Star Casino to open up retail sportsbooks.

Will Minnesota Horse Racing Tracks Be Involved?

In the latest Minnesota sports betting bill, the state’s horse tracks aren’t mentioned. However, Republican politicians have voiced support for sports betting being involved with the state’s race tracks. This is seen with a bill from Senator Jeremy Miller that focuses on retail betting at horse racing tracks and tribal casinos.

The state’s two popular horse racing tracks are Canterbury Park in Shakopee and Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack in Columbus, and both would likely open retail betting spots if Miller’s bill is successful. Having retail sportsbooks available at racetracks is by no means uncommon, as seen with the in-person Caesars Sportsbook located at Scioto Down in Columbus, Ohio.

Minnesota Could Be A Solid Sports Betting Market

Sports betting in Minnesota could definitely see some big numbers. The state has a total population of over 5.7 million, making it more populated than other states with online betting such as Louisiana, Iowa, and Kansas. Plus, the area features some very popular teams to bet on. The Minnesota Vikings will definitely attract plenty of bets as head coach Kevin O’Connell looks to return to the postseason next year.

Thanks to players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves are fighting for a playoff spot right now. While they missed the postseason last year, the Sylvia Fowles and the Minnesota Lynx are hoping to return as the WNBA season tips off this May. Led by star winger Kirill Kaprizov, the Minnesota Wild are currently in an NHL Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. And with Carlos Correa returning to the Minnesota Twins, the team is looking to make some noise in the AL Central.