Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party won decisive control of the state House and expanded its Senate majority, giving sports betting supporters a chance to advance a tribal-led proposal that had stalled under narrow legislative margins.
Minnesota remains one of the few states without legal sportsbooks. Tribal nations, horse tracks, and charitable gaming groups had already reached a compromise that kept sportsbook licenses with the tribes while providing financial benefits to the other interests.
The Democrat-affiliated DFL party expanded its Senate margin from 34-33 to 39-28 over Republicans. The party expanded its House lead from 67-66 to 77-57.
The election gives DFL leaders more room to move legislation through committees and bring a bill to the floor. It also puts more responsibility on the party to find votes within its own ranks, where concerns about gambling addiction and financial harm had helped stall earlier efforts.
