A main stakeholder for a potential Minnesota sports betting deal is ready to start negotiations.
Republican Sen. Jeremy Miller told social media followers last week that he is ready to pass Minnesota sports betting legislation. Miller has introduced several pieces of legislation in recent years and was part of a deal that was reportedly close to the finish line last year.
“There’s one thing that’s certain, it is time to pass a sports betting bill here in Minnesota,” Miller said on social media. “Of course the primary focus for the 2025 legislative session will be the budget, but I remain committed to working together to get a sports betting bill passed here in Minnesota as quickly as possible. We made tremendous progress last year, we almost got there, but we didn’t quite get across the finish line.”
Minnesota sports betting requires bipartisan support because of opposition on both sides of the aisle. However, Miller and his Republican colleagues do have a key disagreement with Democratic-Farmer-Labor Rep. Zack Stephenson and his allies about who should be involved.
Was Minnesota sports betting close in 2024?
On the last day of the legislative session, reports surfaced that a deal was reached between stakeholders to legalize sports betting, but the session ran out of time before it could be passed.
That came after several months of contentious back-and-forth between the Republicans and the horse racing tracks and members of the DFL and their strong tribal allies. The DFL wants tribes to control the industry, while the tracks want licenses.
Details of the deal have not emerged and have remained under wraps. While there could have been a compromise between the stakeholders, DFL Sen. Erin Maye Quade told LSR this fall there were not enough votes to pass the bill and opposition will not wane in 2025.
Miller aims high in 2025
Last year, Miller introduced “Minnesota Sports Betting Act 2.0” building on previous efforts. The bill gave online control to the tribes but offered in-person sportsbooks to the tracks.
It also included tax relief for charitable gaming organizations.
Because both chambers were under DFL control, Miller’s proposal did not go far.
Shifted legislative makeup
Stephenson led sports betting efforts the previous two years as the DFL controlled both chambers. Heading into the 2025 session that starts in January, the makeup is a touch different, as the House now sits at 67-67. The DFL maintained a one-person advantage in the Senate.
Stephenson has not said whether he intends to lead another sports betting effort, but co-sponsor Rep. John Huot told LSR this summer he would be willing to pick up the baton.
Despite the “done deal” at the end of the session, a “source close to negotiators” told Fox 9 that “stakeholders are as close as they have ever been” and could be legal by the next NFL betting season.
Along with the party divide, plenty of opponents, including Maye Quade, are still on the floor.
