An influential state lawmaker is pushing to legalize sports gambling in Minnesota, predicting the U-S Supreme Court will rule favorably in a New Jersey case. Representative Pat Garofalo says he’ll introduce legislation next session. The Republican from Farmington contends, “Now is the time for us to modernize our sports gambling laws and to take ’em away from the back alleys and undergrounds of Minnesota and put ’em out into a regulated, safe and legal environment.”
Garofalo notes many Minnesotans already use technology for sports gambling: “So it’s not a matter of whether people are going to engage in this activity or not. The question is whether it’s gonna be overseas, untaxed and unregulated, versus domestic, regulated and taxed at a reasonable level.” He calls it great opportunity to reduce charitable gaming taxes in Minnesota.
Family advocates will likely oppose the move, warning legal sports wagering will increase compulsive gambling and victimize low-income people.
Here’s the complete Garofalo interview with MNN’s Bill Werner: