Minnesota lawmaker sees tribes and racetracks in new deal

Tuesday, March 20, 2012  

A Minnesota lawmaker is seeking to broker a deal between tribes and the racetrack industry.

Rep. Tim Kelly (R) wants to protect existing tribal casinos, whose operations are being threatened by an expansion of non-Indian gaming. His idea calls for the tribes and two racetracks to operate video slot machines jointly and to share revenues with the state.

“All of this at this point in time is a vision. It’s a different way of looking at a problem,” Kelly told The Rochester Post-Bulletin.

Other lawmakers want to expand non-Indian gaming to generate money for the state and to fund a new Vikings stadium. A state Senate committee rejected the idea at a meeting on Monday but the sponsor of a bill to allow slot machines at tracks said he isn't giving up.

Get the Story:
Red Wing lawmaker seeks new gaming compact (The Rochester Post-Bulletin 3/20)
Minnesota Senate panel rejects 'racino' proposal (The St. Paul Pioneer Press 3/20)
Minn. Senate committee kills 'racino' plan, latest blow to long-sought gambling expansion (AP 3/19)