Opinion: Minnesota politicians willing to take a gamble

Monday, October 31, 2011  

"No matter the question at the state Capitol of late, it seems, somebody says that the answer is more gambling.

A Vikings stadium-casino nexus seemed to grow stronger by the day last week. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak -- once known as a staunch opponent of more gambling -- popped up twice at the statehouse to talk stadium, and both times wound up talking casino at Block E, in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.

Hard on Rybak's heels Thursday was a release from Republican Sen. Al DeKruif of Madison Lake. A racino at privately owned Canterbury Park is the way to go, he insisted.

Meanwhile, the idea of allowing bars to offer "electronic pulltabs," as well as (or instead of) the paper kind, floated through the Capitol, buoyed in part by a surprisingly mild reaction from the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, which encompasses the only entities who now have license to run casinos."

Get the Story:
Lori Sturdevant: Leaders are increasingly willing to take a gamble (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 10/30)

Also Today:
Backers line up for Block E casino (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 10/31)

Related Stories:
MPR: Mayor of Minneapolis a reluctant convert to gaming (10/28)
MPR: Minnesota tribes face another threat to casino empire (10/19)