ST PAUL, MN – In the last three weeks of the legislative session we saw Republican filibustering, back-room wrangling, deal-making and DFL muscle-flexing with an end result of finger-pointing, literal yelling, the meltdown of legislative decorum and, of course, no sports wagering bill passing the legislature. Again.
This year’s failure of sports betting legislation was different for Running Aces and Canterbury Park. The legislature did manage the time to pass the “anti-HHR” bill which was filed by Rep Zach Stephenson in response to the Minnesota Racing Commission’s decision to allow the racetracks to install up to 500 Historical Horse Racing machines at each location even as the issue was working its way through the court system.
On Friday it appeared that a deal had been reached between the DFL, Republicans, racetracks, charities, sports teams and Native Nations on the framework of sports betting but the bill never made it to the floor. In the last hours of the session it appeared that the compromise bill was going to be rolled into the tax bill. That bill included nine separate bills which passed in the last minutes of the session. However the compromise bill inclusion didn’t happen and the House closed the session in chaos and left the state’s racetracks in limbo.
One source reacted that rather than moving forward, the tracks’ position actually moved backward with the HHR option now off the table with no relief from sports betting.
Canterbury Park has spent millions on track and backside upgrades and now has an uncertain future. Running Aces will continue to press their lawsuit against three Nations for conducting card games that they feel should be the tracks’ exclusive purview.
All of Minnesota racing is asking the question “now what?” with no answer.
One possibility could be a special session to tackle sports betting, but the Governor calling a special session for that purpose appears to be unlikely. A concerted, coordinated and cooperative appeal from stakeholders indicating a deal is done and only needs time could be persuasive but only time will tell if that will happen.
Until we see some answers, all Running Aces and Canterbury Park can do is try and build off of successful opening days and continue to work on surviving another year.
