Dayton confronts bill reeling in Minnesota Lottery

Published 3:51 pm Saturday, May 17, 2014

ST. PAUL  — By landslide votes, lawmakers put Gov. Mark Dayton on the spot with a bill preventing the Minnesota Lottery from offering instant-play games online or selling tickets at gas pumps and ATMs.

Dayton hasn’t indicated what he’ll decide, but his lottery director craves a veto.

The Senate voted 56-5 on Friday for the gambling regulation bill and the House then added its consent by a 126-2 vote.

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While the bill could cost the state an estimated $11.7 million, supporters say the lottery overstepped its authority by offering the games without legislative approval.

The bill would end electronic versions of scratch-off tickets by Oct. 30. Those games went live in February.

There would be no chance for a veto override if Dayton strikes the bill down.