Will Minnesota Legalize Sports Betting in 2022?

Through most of spring 2022, hopes were running high among legislators and residents that sports betting might become a reality in Minnesota before the year was up. Heading into the last part of the summer, it’s beginning to look like legalized sports betting won’t make it to the finish line by the end of the year.

While concern grows that the required legislation might have to wait until sometime in 2023, one Minnesota lawmaker is not ready to give up the fight yet. For the past three years, State Senator Karen Bigham has done everything in her power to bring retail and online sports betting to the state’s residents. After eight years of service in the Senate, her tenure is due to come to an end on January 1, 2023. Before that happens, Bigham is committed to taking one more shot to get some form of sports betting legislation done before year-end.

Bigham’s last opportunity to bring everything to fruition will be during a possible special legislative session that could be called for late this summer. As she prepares to take this last shot, Bigham told the PlayUSA website:

“We got so flipping close, that I don’t want to just walk away from it if there’s an opportunity in a special.”

Pass Legislative Attempt at Sports Betting Law Got Close

In the above quote, Bigham references how close legislators recently got to getting sports betting legislation passed. In fact, the House did pass a bill that also met the approval of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association by a vote of 9 to 1. Unfortunately, the bill gave the tribes exclusive rights to both retail and online sports betting through their casinos. This didn’t sit well in the Senate, which was under pressure from the state’s racetracks and independent sports betting operators to produce something that was more equitable.

To resolve the issue, Senate representatives asked the Indian Tribes and the state’s horse racing interests to see if they could come to an agreement. It was not to be and the bill in its original form was labeled a “no go.”

As Bigham prepares to take one more shot, that shot is generally considered a long shot. As an outgoing member of the Senate and the minority party, she doesn’t really wield enough power to get something done during a special session. She would in fact need help from someone with more sway. She hopes to get that support from Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, who has supported her past attempts.

For any chance at sports betting legislation in 2022 moving forward from now, the Governor must call for a special session, something that would likely take place between August 9, 2022 (after the state primaries) and Labor Day, September 5, 2022. Bigham feels certain that if the Governor will open the door one more time, there is a good chance Minnesota residents will be allowed to legally bet on sports by the beginning of 2023.

Simply put, Bigham said, “I think we have the votes.”