ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) — A leading lawmaker in the Minnesota House expressed confidence that his proposal to legalize in-person Sports Betting at the state’s casinos and online will pass this year and gain support. necessary from tribal nations, key stakeholders who have rejected the earlier idea. The legislation would form new gaming compacts with tribes, in addition to the current gaming compact, which would operate mobile versions in partnership with commercial operators, said Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids. They would keep revenue from wagers placed at their brick-and-mortar casinos, but the state would tax a portion of the net winnings from online wagers placed throughout the state. If we didn’t think we had a path to tribal support, I feel very comfortable coming before you today with the bill,” said Stephenson, who chairs the trade committee. The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, which represents 10 tribal nations, said it supports the state’s efforts to legalize sports betting and “believes the tribes are best positioned to offer this new market to consumers in the state.” the group said. Passage of any legislation would mark the most significant change to gaming law in 40 years and would require several committee hearings with public input before it is approved by the legislature. Stephenson said the state could see a flow of up to $20 million by bringing sports gambling in Minnesota from the black market to a regulated operation. Forty percent of the proceeds would fund youth sports and youth programming, with an emphasis on areas with high levels of juvenile crime, and an additional 40% would address gaming addiction. The rest would go to consumer protection to ensure that sports betting does not influence what happens during the games, he added. “Sports betting is a high-volume, low-margin business,” Stephenson said. “This is not going to be a lot of money. I mean, it will be significant, but not an event that changes the budget forecast.” READ MORE: Minnesotans Feel Pain at the Pump as Gas Prices Continue to RiseRep. Pat Garofalo, a Republican from Farmington, who drives to Iowa, where sports betting is currently legal, joined Stephenson at the news conference to express his support for the legislation. He also has bipartisan support in the Senate, where a proposal would also allow gambling at racetracks. “I am here today to represent myself, as well as many members of the Republican and Democratic parties, who are here today to say that we want to support safe and regulated sports betting in Minnesota,” he said. “Let’s move Minnesota forward.” Minnesota is one of the few states that doesn’t have some kind of legal sports betting operation, according to data tracked by the American Gaming Association. All of Minnesota’s neighboring states have legalized it, but only Iowa has an online option. Stephenson said he looked at the more than 30 states that have passed similar legislation and consulted with stakeholders for months across the state, including tribal governments, professional sports teams, colleges and universities, and problem gambling experts. “What we’ve done is develop a model that is specific to Minnesota that works with the dynamic that we have here in Minnesota that is designed for Minnesotans,” he said. On Tuesday, the bill is scheduled for a hearing in the Commerce committee, the first such meeting on a bill like this in the legislature. Stephenson predicted its approval, although he will need the approval of several other committees. Sen. Roger Chamberlain, R-Lino Lakes, who is leading the effort in the Senate, has rejected the House legislation, saying it will not provide consumers with a “good product.” expand options so consumers have the best experience,” he said.