What are the odds Minnesota will legalize sports betting this year? | Talking Points

Minnesota is an island, with legal sports betting in every one of our neighboring states - Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

With the session starting Feb. 12, if passed, Minnesota would join with 38 other states that have legal betting. In recent legislative sessions, sports betting bills have proved difficult to get across the finish line. Rep. Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids and Republican Sen. Jeremy Miller from Winona have sports betting bills they will introduce.

A sticking point: the scheduled changes to e-pull tabs in January 2025. The changes are backed by the Native tribes and would make e-pull tabs look less like slot machines. Miller's sports betting bill calls for the rollback of these changes, something thousands of local charities, including the Richfield VFW Post 555, want.

While taxes from legalized sports gambling would mean more money for addiction resources and education. Susan Sheridan Tucker, the executive director of the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling, says legalization will help bring an existing problem out into the open.

#news #sports #sportsbetting

Problem Gambling Resources: For anonymous, confidential help, people can call the Hotline at 1-800-333-HOPE or 1-800-Gambler.

Read more of Murphy's findings here: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/talking-points-what-are-the-odds-that-minnesota-legalizes-sport-betting-this-year/

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This episode's Talking Points:

0:00 Why sports betting is illegal in Minnesota
1:48 Bipartisan bills to legalize sports betting
11:59 The problem with e-pull tab proposed changes
16:44 How legalization could protect consumers
18:31 Is online gambling a problem for kids?
20:37 Problem gambling among men and women
21:17 How to help a problem gambler
23:54 What Native tribes say about sports betting in Minnesota