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Minnesota House to Consider Casino Proposal

MINNESOTA – As reported by the Associated Press: "A proposal by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe to share casino profits with the state in exchange for certain concessions will probably get a good reception in the state House, at least initially.

"The Republican and DFL leaders of the House said at a debate Wednesday that the Mille Lacs proposal, and a related one by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, were positive signs in the long running dispute over whether to expand gambling in the state.

"Mille Lacs Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin publicly suggested the tribe could share some revenues with the state in exchange for more games and simulcast horse racing at the Grand Casino Hinckley and Grand Casino Mille Lacs. But she stressed that the Mille Lacs Band won't agree to reopen existing compacts or agree to reduce gambling revenues the tribe now uses for its members' needs.

"The Leech Lake Band floated the idea of perhaps joining two other northern tribes in trying to establish a Twin Cities-area casino to benefit the state and the tribes.

"Sviggum said he thought there should be some competition for the tribes, but added that he might be open to giving tribes exclusive rights to operate casinos and expand gambling -- if they shared revenues from new and existing games with the state.

"… In Minnesota, compacts were signed about 15 years ago and didn't include revenue sharing with the state or an expiration date. The state gets about $150,000 per year collectively from all 11 tribes -- money dedicated to policing the state's casinos…"

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