From ‘Dead’ to Debate: Bipartisan Lawmakers Push for Minnesota Sports Betting Bill

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has been working tirelessly to find common ground on a sports betting bill in Minnesota, despite initial challenges. The bill, which was once thought to be dead, is now scheduled for debate in the House on Wednesday. Republican Rep. Pat Garofalo of Farmington, who has been advocating for legalization of sports betting in Minnesota for years, described the current situation as a “Hail Mary play in the endzone.”

The debate over sports betting in Minnesota ultimately boils down to who will profit from it. As the 2024 legislative session comes to a close by Monday, lawmakers are under pressure to reach a decision. The sports betting industry saw record revenue of $11 billion in 2023, highlighting its lucrative potential. However, Minnesota lags behind as only 38 states have legalized some form of sports betting since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on state authorization of sports betting. All of Minnesota’s neighboring states have already legalized some form of sports betting.

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