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Minnesota Governor Wants Piece of Gambling Action

ST. PAUL , Minnesota – As reported by the St. Paul's Pioneer Press: "Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Friday repeated his call for the state of Minnesota to get a piece of the action in casino gambling.

"In a letter to top legislative leaders, Pawlenty cited a new report on gambling in Minnesota by the staff of the state lottery that estimates American Indian tribes receive between $1 billion and $2 billion annually in net revenue from 18 casinos.

"The report notes that Minnesota -- unlike many other states -- receives almost no share of Indian tribes' profits from the casinos.

"…The estimate of $1 billion to $2 billion in net revenue -- total casino wagers, minus prizes paid out but before payment of other expenses -- made by the lottery staff in the new report, is not based on hard evidence. But the revenue range is consistent with previous estimates by lottery researchers and with estimates by outside gambling experts.

"In July, Alan Meister, a Los Angeles economist who works with the Boston-based Analysis Group, estimated Minnesota's casinos took in $1.4 billion last year.

"…Pawlenty, who in February called for non-Indian Minnesotans to get a 'better deal' out of casino gambling, shed no new light Friday on how he intends to do that. The lottery report on gambling, which Pawlenty requested, will increase pressure on tribes to give money to the state and increase pressure on legislators to approve other forms of state-sponsored gambling if the tribes do not yield…"

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