Minnesota Poll Shows Support For More Gambling
By Bruce Hagevik, NewsRadio 830 WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A new Minnesota Poll shows 72 percent of respondents supporting an expansion of gambling.
While some say it's a long shot, state legislators are considering opening up more gambling as a way of reducing a projected $5 billion budget deficit.
Currently only Native Americans can operate casinos in Minnesota.
"And it looks as if we've got three quarters of Minnesotans who are ready to break that agreement," said Larry Jacobs of the Humphrey Institute.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Bruce Hagevik Reports
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But both republicans and democrats have a history in the gambling debate.
"Republicans who, on principle, don't think gambling is something we want to expand. And then you've got democrats who are big supporters of the tribes -- don't want to see their monopoly broken," said Jacobs.
Proposals for expanded gambling include talk of casinos in either downtown Minneapolis or the Mall of America.
