Khan Introduces Sports Betting Bill in Minnesota House of Representatives

The sports betting bill HF 522 has been presented to the Minnesota policymakers by the State Representative Phyllis Kahn as a measure aiming to allow the state lottery and other suitable operators to launch sports pool betting. The introduction of the bill in the state House of Representatives and its expected ratification could lead to another conflict between a US state and the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act following the recent New Jersey events, although the Kahn proposal explicitly prohibits the college games. "Prohibited sports event means a collegiate sport or athletic event that takes place in Minnesota or a sport or athletic event in which any Minnesota college team participates regardless of where the event takes place," the bill stipulates. Yet, it should not surprise if the Minnesota officials emerge among the keenest observers of the Department of Justice and national sports leagues litigation against the state of New Jersey as Khan hopes to see bill effective as of July this year. However, those who might have hoped for internet betting activities in Minnesota following the endorsement of the bill will be disappointed as Kahn's HF 522, section 8 specifies that any licensee issued a permit to operate a sports pool shall not "knowingly make its premises available for placing wagers using the Internet or advertise that its premises may be used for that purpose. A licensee that is determined by the commissioner [of public safety] to have knowingly violated this section shall be subject to a penalty of $1,000 per player per day for making its premises available for placing wagers using the Internet and of $10,000 per violation for advertising that its premises may be used for that purpose." Kahn also proposed a high 8% of GGR tax for operators as part of the tax revenues generated by the bill are to be allocated to the Human Services division of state government to "provide funds for prevention, education, and treatment programs for compulsive gambling programs." The bill has been published on the Minnesota Government official website.