Minn. group wants e-bingo, video lottery in bars

Minnesota bar owners are calling on candidates for governor and the state Legislature to support a major expansion of gambling.

The Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association and other groups are proposing video lottery terminals and electronic pull tabs and electronic bingo in bars as a way to boost the state budget, as well as the hospitality industry.

DFL Sen. David Tomassoni of Chisholm said state lawmakers could help reverse some of the damage to bars caused by passage of a statewide smoking ban.

"This is a place for Minnesota to go not only to create jobs, to not only balance the state budget but to help out an industry that is suffering badly and needs some kind of support to bring it back," Tomassoni said.

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Advocates estimate the expanded gambling would generate $630 million a year in new state revenue. Similar plans have been proposed for years at the Capitol and have not passed.

John McCarthy of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association says gambling in bars will not bring the jobs and revenues that advocates claim.

"They're not bringing in any new gamblers. They're not creating new gamblers," McCarthy said. "So obviously this is going to reduce the revenue from tribal casinos."

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton has called for creating a state run casino, and Tom Horner of the Independence Party has proposed adding casino gambling at Minnesota racetracks.

None of the candidates for governor has endorsed putting slot machines in bars.