Dayton signs bill giving racetracks more gambling options
Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill Friday that allows more gambling tables at state racetracks and opens the gate to simulcast horse racing at tribal casinos.
Racetracks will be able to increase the number of tables at which cards are played from 50 to 80. The maximum wager will also be upped to $100.
The new law gives racetracks more options, said Canterbury Media Relations Manager Jeff Maday.
"We could have 55 or 57 tables running tomorrow, which on Kentucky Derby Day, when the building is going to be packed, is pretty cool," Maday said. "That flexibility that this legislation is going to allow, it's good for the company and good for allowing us to meet the customers' demands."
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The law also allows tribal casinos to negotiate with tracks to simulcast races, which Maday said could increase purses.
"The idea that we could talk with the tribal governments and...that they'd be willing to investigate the ability to simulcast is good," Maday said. "Building these relationships is going to be an advantage to everybody, there's plenty of room for all gaming in Minnesota."
On Friday, Dayton also vetoed a bill that would have required legislative approval of state academic standards and graduation requirements, which Dayton said "would seriously undermine the existing standards review and revision process.
Dayton signed three other bills: a bill containing the legislative recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission, a bill clarifying the definition of public data in agreements using public money and a bill allocating money for the Help America Vote Act.