Conservatives Bailing On Gambling Plan For Stadium

The Minnesota Vikings have been dealing with a stadium issue for several years, and they thought they had finally found a way to help finance a new stadium to keep the Vikings in the state. That plan, however, now appears to be dead with Republican lawmakers against expanded gambling.

The proposal that has been circulating around Minnesota would be to allow charitable gambling to increase in the state, with the tax revenue from the gaming going towards the state helping the stadium get built. That deal appears dead with lawmakers not believing that the charitable gambling would bring in enough revenue to finance the stadium.

"This project is based on some very sketchy assumptions<'s aid State Senator David Hann.

Representative Mike Benson wants to help the Vikings stay in Minnesota, but he is willing to play a game of Russian Roulette with the team, calling the teams bluff that a decision will be made in the near future regarding relocation.

"The Vikings are not going anywhere in the next several months," said Benson."

Vikings owner Ziggy Hood has suggested that if they cannot get assistance in paying for a new stadium in Minnesota, that relocation could be a solution. The NFL has long wanted a team back in the Los Angeles market, and the Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars have been among the teams mentioned to relocate to Southern California.

Minnesota is on the hook for $42 million a year to help finance the new stadium. Benson believes there are other outlets where the money can be generated outside of adding pull tab and bingo gambling games to the current list of regulated gambling options.

While Benson has been anti-gambling, other Republicans have opened the door to some type of compromise regarding the issue.

"Everybody has to suck it up and get it passed," Rep. Tony Cornish said of the gambling bill. "My constituents are saying pass this thing, and do whatever it takes, short of having it come out of our pockets."

April 26, 2012
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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