Pawlenty says profits from the casino might be used in future years to build stadiums for the Minnesota Twins baseball team, Minnesota Vikings football team and the University of Minnesota football team, all of whom want new homes. Revenue to the state is projected to be more than $100 million per year beginning in 2008.
The gambling proposal calls for the state to negotiate an agreement with a group of tribes--possibly the Red Lake, White Earth and Leech Lake bands of Chippewa that have been seeking a Twin Cities casino, plus perhaps other tribes--to operate a metro area casino in partnership with the state.
"We've seen explosive growth in Minnesota's tribal casino industry over the past 15 years," Pawlenty says. "That growth has not benefited 85% of tribal members nor the state as a whole. Numerous other states have re-examined their gaming agreements to ensure greater fairness and it's time for Minnesota to do the same."
Pawlenty outlined what he calls his "Gaming Fairness" proposal, which includes a partnership casino with interested tribes and an optional new compact. The tribes, or perhaps a management company they would hire, would pay the state an upfront licensing fee of $200 million. After that, revenue of an estimated $114 million a year would go into an account that could be used to pay for "facilities for professional or college sports, the arts or other community projects," according to Pawlenty's budget presentation.
Some legislators already worry that the problems associated with increased gambling will more than offset the benefits.
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