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State Representative Phyllis Kahn
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4257
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Rep. Kahn Proposes Alternatives to Electronic Pull Tabs
St. Paul, MN – In an effort to provide alternative gambling-based funding sources to electronic pull tabs, State Representative Phyllis Kahn (DFL – Minneapolis) has renewed her efforts to legalize sports gambling and to establish slot machines at the Minneapolis – St. Paul airport.
“If we’re really serious about seeking new state revenues through gambling, it’s important we have all the options on the table," said Rep. Kahn. “It’s important that the public be aware that although electronic pull tabs have dominated the debate, there are alternatives out there.”
HF 2056, recently introduced by Rep. Kahn, would legalize sports-related gambling in Minnesota. Despite a federal ban on sports-related gambling, the governor of New Jersey signed a bill in January that would legalize this form of gambling, in effect challenging the federal ban. If New Jersey proves successful in this upcoming legal battle, a pathway for Minnesota to legalize sports betting could be made available. Rep. Kahn is hopeful for a federal overturn on the ban, as authorizing sports gambling could provide a much needed new revenue source for the state.
“At one point the Minnesota State Lottery estimated that nearly $2 billion is bet illegally in Minnesota per year,” said Rep. Kahn. “With the assumption that three-quarters of this is sports-related, sports-related bets could account for $1.5 billion of illegal gambling. As many Minnesotans are currently consumed with March Madness brackets, this is not surprising.”
In addition to the legalization of sports related gambling, Rep. Kahn introduced, HF 294 which would authorize the state lottery director to establish and operate slot machines at the airport. Use of the slot machines would be restricted to travelers over the age of 18, who possess a boarding pass. This provision would ensure that only travelers would be gambling, shutting out those only seeking to gamble and increasing the likelihood that the revenue raised would come from non-Minnesotans.
“As we look for new revenue streams to stabilize our volatile budget and to provide funding mechanisms for construction of the Vikings stadium, I would urge my legislative colleagues to delve deeper and examine the alternatives I’ve introduced,” said Rep. Kahn. “They would ensure that Minnesotans would reap the most rewarding benefits of expansions in gambling.”
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