SAINT PAUL, MN – HF 4597 was re-referred to the House State Government and Finance Committee from the Commerce Committee without the provision allowing Minnesota residents to wager on in-state races from Canterbury Park and Running Aces. Provisions protecting the tracks from losing their card club operations and auxiliary MRC financing mechanisms remained in the legislation.
Currently Minnesota residents can wager at home on racing from anywhere in the world via Advanced Deposit Wagering companies such as Twin Spires and TVG, but not on local races. Because of the limited time remaining in the legislative session and with consensus unable to be reached on the ADW provision despite his efforts, Tabke removed the language from the bill so that the other provisions could make their way through the process and the tracks could get some relief.
“There were quite a few opponents,” said bill co-author Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee) during the hearing, “and we had to do something that will help the horse racing industry. We did find some common ground so that’s what we moved forward.”
Tabke later acknowledged that opposition came from anti-gambling groups as well as the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association.
Representative Pat Garafalo (R-Farmington) was clearly exasperated trying to understand the reason for opposition to the removed provision.
“No one is interested in reopening the conflicts of the past,” said Garafalo, “But I just don’t understand the opposition to the ADW change. This isn’t even an expansion of gambling. That reasoning is stupid.”
The provisions left in the bill will increase the current portion of ADW fees that go to the operations of the Minnesota Racing Commission from 1% to 2% to relieve the burden on the two racetracks, allow the MRC to waive the requirement of 50 racing days for card club operations and allow the purse account to be used for other purposes. All of these provisions are temporary and would expire on December 31, 2021. Canterbury Park has been adamant that they would like to run more than 50 days this year.
The Senate companion bill, SF4504 introduced by Eric Pratt (R, Prior Lake), was referred to the Committee on State Government and Finance and Elections with no hearing scheduled.
HF4597 has a scheduled hearing in the House Government and Finance on Friday, May 8 at 8 AM.
