Betting News

The Minnesota house taxes committee moved forward a legal sports betting bill today (30 April) with the belief that it won't get to the governor's desk. The committee voted, 12-9, to send an amended version of HF 2000 to the ways and means committee with about three weeks remaining in the session.

The wagering bill moves forward against an unusual backdrop. Last week Democratic State Senator Nicole Mitchell was arrested on burglary charges. The senate has taken away her committee and voting privileges. The Democrats had a one-vote majority in the senate prior to the arrest. Now, any bill will require bi-partisan support.

“With the nonsense bordering on criminal in the senate, I don’t think this bill will get out of the legislature,” Representative Bjorn Olson said.

The bill would allow for statewide mobile wagering with platforms tethered to tribes. It would give the tribes exclusivity and earmark $625,000 for the state’s horse tracks.

Several committee members suggest..

The fate of any business – including legalising sports betting – getting done in the Minnesota legislature was thrown into jeopardy late last week. Senator Nicole Mitchell was arrested early on Monday (22 April) morning, and has since been removed from her committee and caucus assignments, according to a statement from Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy.

In what could be a blow to the Minnesota sports betting bill, Senator Mitchell was arrested for a burglary that she said is a family situation blown out of proportion. She said in a statement that “I am confident that a different picture will emerge when all the facts are know.”

Mitchell said she wanted to retrieve her deceased father’s ashes and was checking in on a family member with Alzheimer’s, according to media reports. The arrest took place in the early morning hours of 22 April.

However the criminal situation plays out, Mitchell’s arrest has left the Minnesota senate in a quandary. It now has 33 Democrats and 33 Republican..