"A de facto monopoly lives on, 21 years now after compacts, or agreements, between the State of Minnesota and indigenous Indian tribes. Until, possibly, this legislative session.

Under 1989 compacts, a stranglehold on casino-style "gaming" allows slot machines, the most popular form of "gaming," only at Indians' casinos statewide. That may be changed, allowing for competition, by a hybrid form of wagering and casino-style "gaming" at Minnesota horse-racing tracks. They are known in the 12 other states that permit them, with more inevitably to come, as "racinos."

A bill introduced Monday in the Minnesota House by Reps.. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont) and Dan Sparks (DFL-Austin), and in the Senate by Dave Senjem (R-Rochester), would permit tax-paying racinos in Minnesota, breaking the 21-year Indian casino monopoly.

Fully 75 percent of Minnesotans, by independent surveys, approve of the measure. No question at all, it has public support. Whether state legislators will pass this bill, or something similar, and whether the budget-challenged governor will sign it, are open to rank speculation.

In any event, fur is about to fly. All sorts of hints and allegations, mostly partisan-based, offered by moneyed special interests, will reflect scant regard for the facts, or what the public wants."

Get the Story:
Gary Larson: Can 'racinos' crack Minnesota's gambling compacts? (The St. Paul Pioneer Press 3/23)

Related Stories:
Editorial: It's time to renegotiate casino compacts in Minnesota (3/8)
MPR: Minnesota tribes oppose expansion of non-Indian gaming (2/24)