House Commerce Committee heard and advanced two bills that would curtail the Minnesota State Lottery's foray into innovative forms of State Lottery gambling, such as at the gas pump, ATMs and online.
The two bills, authored by GOP Reps. Greg Davids and Tim Sanders, were similar to legislation passed last year by wide bipartisan majorities in both houses but vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton.
The legislation seeks to restore legislative branch prerogative after lawmakers perceived the State Lottery moving into new gambling without legislative approval.
"I think we have 'lottery gone wild,'" Davids said. "And I think we need to be clear that the Legislature will decide what we're gonna do."
Several anti-gambling activists testified that the easier access provided by the new forms of gambling were dangerous and could lead to higher rates of addiction.
Minnesota State Lottery Executive Director Ed Van Petten said he it was never his intention to "usurp the authority of the Legislature," and that lottery officials had "learned our lesson." He touted the hundreds of millions of dollars of lottery proceeds that have gone to state programs, and especially environmental programs, while opposing the legislation and offering compromise language.
