Minnesota Governor sits out in online gambling furore

Minnesota governor Mark Dayton seems to be taking a neutral stance in the growing row between the director of the state lottery and members of the state legislature over the state lottery moves online.

A number of lawmakers are up in arms over the lottery’s decision to offer tickets and scratchcards online, saying the legislature should have been asked for approval first, whilst lottery management says it is acting within its mandate and has kept the governor apprised of progress .

On Wednesday the governor told The Republic newspaper that he hasn’t formed a position on a bill proposed by the furious lawmakers that seeks to bar the Minnesota Lottery from selling tickets over the Internet.

Dayton said that he will seek input from supporters and opponents as the bill, which is currently before the state Senate, progresses.

Governor Dayton says the lottery was formed with a key mission of generating revenues for Minnesota environment programs so it should be striving to bring in as much revenue as it can. He says he’s not convinced lawmakers should step in, although he regards lawmakers’ concerns about Internet gambling as valid.

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