A brief letter from a major player in the sphere of legal gambling has altered the politics around the issue of sports gambling in Minnesota. At least for now.
Last week, Charles Vig, the seat of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, wrote Gov. Tim Walz and the four legislative leaders to say the nation’s gambling tribes were not interested in adding sports betting to their offerings.
But he didn’t stop there. From the letter, Vig said the tribes will probably oppose passage of legislation to include Minnesota to the growing list of states with legalized sports gambling. “The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association continues to oppose the expansion of off-reservation gaming, including the legalization of sports betting,” he wrote.
The seven casino-owning tribes at Minnesota join a group of allies in sports gambling betting bills this year, including groups such as Citizens Against Gambling Expansion, which concerns about the ill effects of gambling, such as dependency.
The tribes do not have a veto over non-tribal gaming, but their voices are influential, especially among DFLers like Gov. Tim Walz and the new House majority. Under federal law, states must deal in good faith to permit tribes to offer the very same types of gambling that is legal off-reservation.
Until a U.S. Supreme Court decision last spring cleared the way for countries to provide sports betting like what’s legal in Nevada casino sports books, that law was not a problem in Minnesota. It is. With a 6-3 majority, the court ruled in Murphy v. NCAA that Congress exceeded its authority by preventing states from legalizing and regulating sports betting. The case had been brought by New Jersey, which wanted to give a boost to its fighting Atlantic City casinos, also had attempted a series of legal moves to end the federal ban against sports gambling in most states except Nevada.
In the vast majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito, Jr. wrote that Congress has the ability to pass legislation to regulate sports betting itself. However, when it decides not to, then each state is free to do so, and many have done just that.
A draft bill circulated in the Minnesota capitol at the end of this 2018 session however no formal bill was filed and no hearings were held. Supporters of the law, led by Sen. Roger Chamberlain, R-Blaine, are coordinating a bill for this session,.
Chamberlain, who’s chair of the Senate Taxes Committee, was surprised and a bit disappointed at the tribes’ place, which he discovered about through Twitter. “We met together and while they’re not always in alignment they’re obviously concerned about losing their economic base, the economic engine,” Chamberlain said. “We understand that. We have reassured them that we are not interested in damaging that interest or jeopardizing tribal compacts.”
State Sen. Roger Chamberlain
Courtesy of Senate Media Services
State Sen. Roger Chamberlain, R-Blaine, stated cellular betting must be a part of this state law since that is where much of the gambling action is.
But Chamberlain said he is optimistic it remains subject to discussions, and he said he thinks it might be a win for the nation, the tribes and to get non-tribal gambling. “There’s no reason to shut the remainder of the country and the remainder of the possible consumers and operators and players from taking part in a totally safe and lawful firm,” he said. “We hope to get to a location where everyone can agree and I think we could.”
Once it appears evident that tribes would be able to offer sports betting in their casinos if it is made valid for non-tribal gambling, legal advisors notice that sports gambling sets up some tough choices for tribes. The first issue is that gambling on sports — about the results of matches, on scores and other outcomes — is not especially lucrative for casinos. Another is that under national law, tribes may simply offer betting within the boundaries of reservations. This makes the most-promising facet of sports gambling — distant betting online or via mobile devices — may be off limits to these, but not to non-tribal sports novels.
Chamberlain said cellular betting must be part of this state law since that’s where much of the gambling action is. Part of the rationale for legalizing it state by state would be to catch a few of the bets made illegally.
“In this market and culture you need mobile access to be profitable,” Chamberlain said.
Online betting would also make gaming available in remote and rural parts of the country that might not have casinos or even commercial sports books nearby. 1 possible solution for those tribes is to announce that the gambling takes place not where a participant’s telephone is, but in which the computer server that processes the wager is located. That is far from solved law, however.
“We can find our way round these problems and do it,” Chamberlain said.
Vig is chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota, which possesses the Mystic Lake and Little Six casinos, did not close the door on ultimate tribal interest in sports gambling. He did, however, ask the country to move gradually.
“While there is a desire by some to consider this issue during the current session, it seems that the public interest will be best served first by careful study of sports betting’s implications in this state, evaluation of other states’ experiences where sports betting betting has been legalized, and comprehensive consultation with the large number of stakeholders interested in it,” Vig wrote.
A spokesman for the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association said leaders were not available for interviews and that Vig’s letter are their only statement on the issue.
State Rep. Laurie Halverson
State Rep. Laurie Halverson
The chair of the home committee that would consider any sports gambling bills said the tribal association’s letter does not change her position on the issue. Rep. Laurie Halverson, DFL-Eagan, said there are still no patrons within her caucus pushing a statement. Before the tribes left their position known, Halverson stated she intended to be cautious and deliberate on the topic.
“I have yet to see language or have anything introduced,” she explained.
But she anticipates legislation will surface, and she wishes to have at least an information hearing so lawmakers will comprehend the consequences and listen from both backers and opponents. “I think we are all in learning mode,” she explained. “If something is this brand new, that’s the legislative model typically. Things take time and we need to be deliberative about these major modifications to Minnesota law.”
In a press conference Wednesday,” Walz said his fundamental position on the problem will be to legalize and regulate. But he explained that should come just after a process of hearings and debate. “I expect adults to make mature decisions,” he explained of gaming. “I also recognize that addiction comes in many forms, whether that’s alcohol, tobacco or cannabis or sports gambling and these can have societal consequences that are pretty catastrophic.
“If the Legislature chooses to take up that, we’re certainly interested in working with them to make it right,” Walz said.

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