A bill to legalize sports betting in Minnesota has cleared its first hurdle in a House committee. The Democratic proposal would put the state’s tribes in control of in-person betting at their casinos, as well as remote wagering via mobile devices.
Representatives of Draft Kings and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association testified for the bill, but among those opposed was Leah Patton, executive director of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition.
Patton said legal sports betting would “bring access to gambling into every home, school and work place in our state 24 hours a day. We believe this will create more problem gamblers and intensify the struggle of those already dealing with gambling addictions.”