The senate tax committee has voted to double the proposed tax rate in relation to legalizing Minnesota sports betting in the North Star State.
The proposal would see the tax rate increase from 10% to 20%. The bill – SF1,949 – has now gone through six senate committees. It will now go on to the senate finance.
If it passes that, sports betting will take a step closer to being legalized. However, similar legislation has gone down this road before and been thwarted in the senate.
The state of Minnesota is one of few in the United States that still holds a strong stance on not legalizing sports betting. With that said, the news of the voted tax hike means residents have been provided fresh optimism.
In fact, many believe that sports gambling could be legalized later this year. The US Supreme Court ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 was unconstitutional.
Naturally, this saw a flurry of states rush to legalize sports betting. Now, it only appears to be a matter of time before Minnesota follows suit.
Can Sports Bets Be Placed In Minnesota?
As it stands, Minnesotans are able to place sports bets via offshore sportsbooks such as Bovada or BetOnline. Furthermore, horse racing was legalized in the early 1980s and continues to be a favorite for keen bettors in person.
It was only last year that Minnesota provided a fresh push to legalize more robust sports betting opportunities. On that occasion, it failed to make it out of committee in the House or out of the Senate.
The main reason the legislation in Minnesota is facing several sticking points is due to who gets control of sports gambling in the state.
Also, it’s a case of deciding how the revenues would be split between the American Indian tribes and the state’s two horse tracks — Canterbury Park in Shakopee and Running Aces in Columbus.
For seamless gaming experiences and instant withdrawals, explore the fastest payout online casinos available.