Sports betting appears to be back on the table in the next legislative session now that a Minnesota horse track is on board with it as well.
Taro Ito os President and CEO of Running Aces in Blaine, Minnesota, and says there's been a misconception about this bill.
"We've made it clear to all the stakeholders and to, you know, the legislators, that we're not opposed to sports betting in Minnesota," says Ito. "We are not the obstacle in this process. All we want is to be treated fairly.
They also want a license. He adds that it's incorrect they've been in opposition of such a measure and that technically they've been taking sports bets for the past 39 years.
"There's absolutely no reason why Running Aces shouldn't have the same options as tribal nations," says Ito. "People don't realize this, but every time you make a wager at a racetrack, it's the same as a sports bet. It's the exact same technology, a lot of the same vendors, same accounting system, same security as a sports bet."
Ito is optimistic a deal can be brokered and so is Senator Matt Klein (DFL- Mendota Heights).
"In the Senate, it's got to get through I think five committees or six committees, and I'll be presenting it in each one of those committees," Klein explains. "We'll try to get it scheduled early in session and move quickly through that process."
The bill has had bipartisan support from day one but continually ran into roadblocks when it came to how to get a bill on the governor's desk.
"I know that Canterbury, the other track in Minnesota, is supporting it as well, and wants to get it done urgently," says Klein. "So let's get it going."