Minnesota Rep. Zack Stephenson is two-for-two this week after the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee Thursday morning moved his sports betting bill forward. It was voted out of the House Commerce, Finance, and Policy Committee Tuesday, and now heads to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee.
Stephenson’s bill, HF 2000, would allow for retail and statewide mobile wagering and has the backing of the state’s 11 Indian tribes and its professional sports teams. Under the bill, all tribes would be licensed for wagering and entitled to one brick-and-mortar sportsbook and one digital platform, or skin.
Thursday’s committee meeting was succinct and filled with quips. After Stephenson introduced the bill and said it had the backing of all the state’s pro teams, committee Chair Jamie Becker-Finn asked if that included Minnesota’s “professional ultimate [frisbee] team.” She asked with a smile, and Stephenson looked surprised but said, “Well, add that to the list!”
DraftKings’ David Prestwood was the only person to testify in person in favor of the bill, while two groups — the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling and the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition — were opposed. The latter group, represented by Executive Director Leah Patton, laid out the ills of wagering. But in the end, she thanked Stephenson for hearing their concerns.