The Future of Gaming

The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe owns and operates numerous businesses in East Central Minnesota, including Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley. These businesses benefit the economy by providing jobs, generating tourism, supporting vendors, and contributing to economic development across the region.

Gaming expansion has emerged once again as a hot topic at the Capitol. It has been introduced as a possible way to fund the state’s portion of a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. Options being discussed include:

State-owned casino at Block E in Minneapolis

Slot machines at race tracks, including Canterbury Park and Running Aces

Electronic pull tabs at bars

White Earth Band-built and owned casino in Arden Hills, with revenues split between the tribe and the state

Gambling at a race track in the Iron Range

Governor Mark Dayton has indicated that he does not want to rely on racinos (slot machines at the state’s race tracks) to fund the proposed stadium due to potential legal challenges. Instead, Dayton prefers electronic pull tabs, which would upgrade traditional paper charitable pull tab games to electronic devices.

In the middle of the Governor’s push to find a Vikings stadium funding source, racino bill author Dave Senjem became the new Senate Majority Leader. Senjem supports racinos at Canterbury Park and Running Aces, with some of the profits going toward a new stadium. As one of the state’s three most powerful politicians – along with Governor Dayton and House Speaker Zellers – he will lead the decision-making on which Senate committees hold a hearing on a bill and can put a bill on the fast track or prevent it from ever being heard.

The new Vikings stadium and potential gaming expansion will be highly discussed topics throughout the 2012 Legislature, which convened on January 24.

No matter what the proposed expansion is or when it might occur, it would have a drastic effect on Grand Casino Mille Lacs, Grand Casino Hinckley, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and many of the people and businesses that work with us. To show your support for the economic vitality that Grand Casinos and the Mille Lacs Band bring to East Central Minnesota, please visit our Action Center.

Learn more:
• Sign up to receive the latest updates on gaming expansion talks at the Minnesota Legislature
• What others are saying
• The Mille Lacs Band and its Grand Casinos: An economic engine in East Central Minnesota