A bill that aims to introduce sports wagering in Minnesota has been amended further and re-referred to the House Commerce, Finance and Policy Committee.
House Bill 167 was first introduced on 19 January, but initially did not concern sports betting. It is sponsored by Representative Zack Stephenson and Representative John Huot.
The Commerce Finance and Policy committee first amended the bill earlier this month, effectively turning it into a sports wagering bill.
The bill has now been amended by the Human Services Finance and Policy committee and adopted in its new form.
The legislation would allow for only two master sports betting licences, which may be granted to “organisations comprised of two or more Indian tribes”.
Of these licences, one will go to an entity with headquarters north of Interstate Highway 94, and one located south of the highway. I-94 stars at the Wisconsin border near Minneapolis and moves northwest before leaving the state near Fargo, North Dakota.
These master licences will last for 20 years.
Master licensees may then partner with mobile sports betting operators, which must be owned by Native American tribes and must apply for their own licences. The northern master licensee may partner with up to seven tribes, and the southern licensee with up to four.
As there are seven tribes located north of I-94 and four to the south, every Minnesota tribe would be able to operate sports betting.
License holders have to pay an annual fee of $2,125 to the commissioner.
Organizations who wish to hold a mobile sports betting platform provider or services provider license must pay an application fee of $6,000 and a license fee of $38,250, or a renewal fee of $8,500.
A financial report of all available licenses will be presented to legislative groups by 1 February each year, starting in 2023, containing information on the activities or each licensee.
A tax rate has not yet been set.
In January last year Minnesota introduced legislation that aimed to introduce and regulate sports betting in Minnesota, but it did not progress past the state senate.