The modified legislation would authorize two casinos to be built at Canterbury Park's 380-acre Shakopee location, with one casino to be operated by Canterbury Park and one to be operated by Minnesota's Northern Tribes. Under the new model, Canterbury Park would be required to pay a $150-million up-front fee to the state, which is $50 million more than previously proposed. In exchange for the higher up-front payment, Canterbury Park would retain a greater percentage of gross gaming revenues from the slot machines and banked blackjack. Canterbury officials said Monday they are reviewing the proposal, and are hoping to come up with an arrangement that is "acceptable to all parties involved."

Each casino would be about one-third smaller than originally proposed, and they probably would be across the track from each other on the sprawling Canterbury grounds in Shakopee. The proposal will likely be heard next by the Minnesota House Committee on Ways and Means in the coming weeks, according to Canterbury officials.

But opposition remains, such as: a few Republican House members who favor a single casino long sought by Canterbury's owners; two of the three American Indian tribes that initially signed on as partners with Pawlenty, and are now wavering in their commitment to the deal; and Minnesota attorney general Mike Hatch, who has called Minnesota Lottery's involvement in casinos "unconstitutional."