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Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

Legislature votes to kill MN Lottery’s online games

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Minnesota lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Friday to stop state lottery officials from offering online games and gas pump ticket sales.

The state Senate passed the measure on a 56 to 5 vote. The House then voted 126 to 2.

The move could cost the state nearly $12 million. But DFL Sen. Sandy Pappas of St. Paul said she thinks the climate is changing on gambling.

"There was a while when the Legislature was very interested in expanding gambling, and now I think the Legislature feels like the pendulum is swinging the other way," Pappas said. "The consequence is the Legislature does feel we need to rein in certain forms of gambling."

Under the bill, lottery officials will need to end the recently launched electronic games by Oct. 30. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton has not yet said whether he'll sign the bill.

Supporters of the bill contend that the lottery overstepped its authority to expand gambling. Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, said he thinks the lottery is out of control.

"This bill brings it back into control and reminds it that the laws of the state of the Minnesota are written by the Legislature, with the governor’s approval," he said. "They’re not written by  the executive branch, by agencies or by individuals in those executive branch agencies."