Minnesota State Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) today unveiled the Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0, an updated version of his sports betting proposal. The Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0 builds on the bipartisan cooperation and momentum from last session and aims to bring together stakeholders and legislators from both sides of the aisle to legalize sports betting in Minnesota.  

This proposal includes ideas brought forward from people across the state, including colleagues on both sides of the aisle, in an effort to finally pass a sports betting bill Minnesotans can be proud of. The bill would help the state’s eleven tribes, enhance the horse racing industry, benefit charities, bring major sporting events to Minnesota, provide funding for youth sports, and fund problem gambling services. 

“Minnesota continues to miss out on what is now a $150 billion industry,” Senator Miller said. “We were on the brink of success last year; I strongly believe 2025 could be the year we get this across the finish line.” 

 Key components of the Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0 include:  

• The bill would allow Minnesota’s 11 tribes to have a license for on-site and/or mobile sports betting.    

• 20% revenue tax on license holders, which after fully implemented, would generate about $80 million per year of state tax revenue (based on the most recent estimates). 

• Tax revenue from Minnesota’s sports betting program would be split as follows: 50% for tax relief on charitable gambling, 25% to bring major sporting events to Minnesota, 20% to enhance horse racing in the state, 2.5% for mental health and problem gambling support, and 2.5% for grants to support youth sports.

“So far, 39 other states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, have already legalized sports betting,” Senator Miller said. “This updated proposal combines ideas from the last two versions of my Minnesota Sports Betting Act along with proposals from other sports betting bills that have made progress in the legislature. It also includes ideas brought forward by constituents and stakeholders. The goal of this proposal is to bring folks together to work toward a bipartisan solution to legalize sports betting in Minnesota.” 

In 2018, a United States Supreme Court ruling struck down a 1992 federal law that effectively banned most states from authorizing commercial sports gambling. Sports wagering has been rapidly gaining acceptance in America ever since. 39 states and Washington D.C. have legalized sports betting since the SCOTUS decision. 

Americans are now gambling on sports in massive numbers. In 2023, United States sports wagering revenue reached nearly $150 billion.  

Minnesota is the only state in our region without a legal sports betting option. This means Minnesotans must cross state lines to bet on games or find illegal workarounds with online vendors. Legalizing betting in the state would mean Minnesotans can bet in the state and know they are doing so in a safe, structured, and regulated manner.