SF4139
Sports betting authorization and regulation
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)
Related bill: HF4204
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
To authorize and regulate mobile sports betting in Minnesota, with a strong emphasis on fairness, legality, public safety, and responsible gaming. The bill aims to create a comprehensive regulatory framework, establish licensing and taxation, enable consumer protections, and fund related gambling programs. It also references changes to related gambling laws and processes, including potential tax adjustments and parimutuel horse racing provisions.
What the bill would do
- Create a state-regulated system for mobile sports betting, overseen by a designated commissioner.
- Require rules and standards to ensure operations are fair, transparent, and responsible.
- Promote public safety and protect vulnerable players by implementing limits, exclusions, warnings, and a help system.
- Establish a cross-operator exclusion system so a person restricted on one platform is restricted across all operators.
- Introduce advertising rules to guard against under-21 targeting and misleading claims.
- Require ongoing studies and reporting to monitor gambling prevalence and potential harms, including impacts on youth and suicide risk.
- Allow sports governing bodies to request restrictions on certain wagers or events to protect integrity.
- Prohibit certain marketing practices (like push notifications while inactive) and bar endorsements by amateur athletes.
- Include penalties, licensing, background checks, and auditing requirements for operators, platform providers, and suppliers.
Main provisions and how they work
Regulatory authority and rulemaking
- The commissioner has broad authority to regulate mobile sports betting, including how bets are accepted and paid, how lines are communicated, revenue accounting, recordkeeping, licensing requirements, testing, security, and anti-fraud measures.
- Rules cover funding mobile accounts, excluding credit cards, and allow funding via bonuses, electronic transfers, prepaid/reloadable cards, and approved methods.
- Rules focus on preventing compulsive and problem gambling and identifying disqualified individuals.
Advertising and marketing
- All ads must display a national helpline (1800GAMBLER) and carry warnings about potential addiction and financial harm.
- Prohibits targeting under-21 individuals; bans ads that depict under-21s engaging in betting or are aimed at audiences where 30%+ are under 21.
- Prohibits endorsements by amateur athletes and partnerships with colleges/universities that promote betting (except for alumni networks or responsible gambling content).
- Advertising on school or on-campus properties is restricted; certain misleading claims are banned.
- Clear terms disclosure for promotions; restrictions on risk-free language and withdrawal conditions.
Consumer protections and responsible gaming
- Personal limits: players can set limits on time, money deposited, losses, and wagers; cooling-off periods are available.
- Default limits: specific default loss and deposit limits are set (with a cooling-off period); limits can be adjusted, and reducing restrictions takes effect immediately while loosening restrictions takes effect after a waiting period.
- Quarterly reviews: players must review and confirm limits at setup and periodically.
- Cross-operator exclusions: if a player is excluded on one platform, others must enforce the exclusion.
- Push notifications: messages from betting apps may not appear when the app is inactive, with limited exceptions (fraud alerts, responsible gaming, or identity verification).
Exclusion list and wagering prohibitions
- A central exclusion list is maintained for people not eligible to wager, including self-imposed exclusions, guardians or operators’ reports, and sports governing bodies’ inputs.
- Exclusions can be time-limited (1, 3, 5 years) or permanent.
- Information on the exclusion list is private, but shared with operators as needed to enforce exclusions.
- Certain individuals (e.g., athletes, coaches, officials, or those with access to sensitive information) are prohibited from wagering on events overseen by their governing bodies.
- Operators cannot accept bets from those on the exclusion list or allow account creation for such individuals.
Studies and reporting
- Baseline study on gambling activity in Minnesota prior to sports betting implementation, with follow-up updates every three years.
- Study on the impact of sports betting on problem gambling, gambling disorders, youth gambling, and suicide risk, drawing on available research.
- Regular review of other states’ restrictions to identify safeguards; annual reporting to legislators with recommended restrictions or safeguards.
Other regulatory and policy changes
- Authorities may request restrictions on wager types or events if integrity concerns arise; operators must respond and the commissioner can provisional grant or deny based on good cause.
- Expedited rulemaking may be used for certain notice-approved rules.
- The bill envisions modifications to related statutes (taxation, licensing, and other gambling provisions) and adds new chapters to codify the regulatory framework.
Significant changes to existing law
- Establishment of a formal, centralized regulatory regime for mobile sports betting, including licensing, audits, back-end controls, and background checks for operators and suppliers.
- Stronger consumer protections centered on problem gambling prevention (limits, cooling-off, exclusions, helpline) and cross-operator enforcement.
- Comprehensive advertising restrictions intended to curb under-21 exposure and misleading marketing.
- Mandatory, ongoing research and reporting to monitor gambling prevalence and related harms, with a focus on youth and suicide risk.
- New mechanisms for event integrity: sports governing bodies can request restrictions on certain wagers or events.
- Creation of an exclusion list with privacy safeguards and cross-operator enforcement.
- Prohibition on certain communications (push notifications) to inactive users to reduce impulse betting.
Notes on scope
- The bill also references broader gambling-related changes, including tax rates on lawful gambling and provisions for parimutuel horse racing, suggesting broader fiscal and regulatory adjustments beyond mobile sports betting.
Relevant terms - mobile sports betting - commissioner - licensees / mobile sports betting operators / platform providers / sports wagering suppliers - fair, lawful, responsible betting - problem gambling / gambling disorder / compulsive gambling - 1800GAMBLER / National Council on Problem Gambling - helpline - exclusion list / self-exclusion / cross-operator exclusion - personal limits / cooling-off period / time and money limits - advertising restrictions / under-21 prohibition / responsible gambling messaging - event integrity / wagering restrictions at sports governing bodies - push notifications prohibition - baseline study / prevalence study / youth gambling / suicide risk - data privacy / background checks / auditing / testing - tax changes / parimutuel horse racing (contextual references)
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Past committee meetings
- Rules and Administration on: March 19, 2026 15:00
- Commerce and Consumer Protection on: April 14, 2026 12:30
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 04, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 04, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Commerce and Consumer Protection | |
| March 04, 2026 | Senate | Action | Rule 4, referred to | Rules and Administration | |
| March 23, 2026 | Senate | Action | Comm report: Re-referred to | Commerce and Consumer Protection | |
| March 23, 2026 | Senate | Action | Motion did not prevail |
Citations
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"analysis": {
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"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 240.01, subdivision 1b.",
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},
"citation": "240.01",
"subdivision": "subd. 1b"
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{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 245.98, subdivision 2.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "245.98",
"subdivision": "subd. 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 260B.007, subdivision 16.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "260B.007",
"subdivision": "subd. 16"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 270B.07, by adding a subdivision (no specific subd indicated in text).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "270B.07",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 297E.02, by adding a subdivision (no specific subd indicated in text).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "297E.02",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 349.12, subdivision 25.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "349.12",
"subdivision": "subd. 25"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 609.75, subdivisions 3, 4, and 7, by adding a subdivision.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.75",
"subdivision": "subd. 3, 4, 7"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 609.76, subdivision 2.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.76",
"subdivision": "subd. 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 609.761, subdivision 3.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609.761",
"subdivision": "subd. 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes chapters including 116U (as part of proposed coding for new law).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "116U",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes chapter 240 (as part of proposed coding for new law).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "240",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes chapter 240A (as part of proposed coding for new law).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "240A",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes chapter 245 (as part of proposed coding for new law).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "245",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes chapter 299L (as part of proposed coding for new law).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes chapter 609 (as part of proposed coding for new law).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "609",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.15 (Powers and Duties of Commissioner).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.15",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.37, subdivision 1 (Advertising content).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.37",
"subdivision": "subd. 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.37, subdivision 2 (Prohibition on targeting individuals under age 21).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.37",
"subdivision": "subd. 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.37, subdivision 3 (Prohibition on targeting individuals prohibited from placing wagers).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.37",
"subdivision": "subd. 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.37, subdivision 4 (Advertising content).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.37",
"subdivision": "subd. 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.37, subdivision 5 (Prohibition on advertising in certain locations).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.37",
"subdivision": "subd. 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.37, subdivision 6 (Prohibition on false or misleading claims).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.37",
"subdivision": "subd. 6"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.37, subdivision 7 (Applicability).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.37",
"subdivision": "subd. 7"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.405, subdivision 1 (Personal limits – general).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.405",
"subdivision": "subd. 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.405, subdivision 2 (Personal limits on wagering).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.405",
"subdivision": "subd. 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.41, subdivision 1 (Push notifications prohibition).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.41",
"subdivision": "subd. 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.45, subdivision 1 (Exclusion list).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.45",
"subdivision": "subd. 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.45, subdivision 2 (Prohibited wagers by certain persons).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.45",
"subdivision": "subd. 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.45, subdivision 3 (Prohibition on accepting wagers).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.45",
"subdivision": "subd. 3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.45, subdivision 4 (Prohibition on advertising).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.45",
"subdivision": "subd. 4"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.75, subdivision 1 (Baseline study).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.75",
"subdivision": "subd. 1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.75, subdivision 2 (Continued study).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.75",
"subdivision": "subd. 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.751 (Study on impact of sports betting on problem gambling, etc.).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.751",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024, 299L.753 (Review of other states' restrictions).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299L.753",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee