Expanded gambling bill awaits vote in Legislature

Officials at Canterbury Park say a bill moving through the Legislature to expand gambling in the state will also help the sport of horse racing.

The bill, which passed the Senate over the weekend, would add more tables and higher stakes to the poker room at Canterbury Park. It would also allow betting on simulcast horse races at Native American casinos.

Canterbury Park President Randy Sampson said the change would boost racing purses by 30-40 percent

"I don't expect this to be able to turn us into world-class racing, which we'd certainly like to do. But it will hopefully give enough additional boost in our purses to help keep trainers and owners coming back here and racing while we continue to look at other opportunities to make the industry viable," he said.

The legislation awaits a vote in the Minnesota House, which trying to wrap up the session with key votes on the Vikings stadium, taxes and public works still pending.

As part of the deal that led to the legislation, Canterbury would drop, for now, its proposal to add slot machines at the racetrack.

The legislation awaits a vote in the Minnesota House.

As part of the deal that led to the legislation, Canterbury would drop, for now, its proposal to add slot machines at the racetrack.