ND Rep offers another attempt to legalize sports betting in state

Expanding legal sports betting in North Dakota beyond tribal casinos  could be put to a public vote in 2024 under a proposed measure offered by a Fargo-area lawmaker.

The sponsor, Republican Representative Greg Stemen, testified before the North Dakota House Judiciary Committee today (Mon). He said legal sports betting could be lucrative for the state.

“It’s estimated currently that here are almost 140,000 people betting in the state illegally through utilization of the internet,” Stemen said. “It is estimated that approximately $355,000,000 is wagered annually, and approximately $36,000,000 in revenue is garnered for those sports books.”

Stemen is a former member of the State Board of Higher Education.

But Mark Hagerott, chancellor of North Dakota’s University System, told the committee that he and college presidents are against the idea.

“We believe that opening the door to college sports betting in our state could have massive negative implications to our students and put the safety and welfare of our students and even families at risk,” Hagerott said.

Hagerott told the committee that if the resolution passes, he’d like the language to say that college or university events in the state would be excluded.

The Committee recommended against passage Monday, but the resolution will get a floor vote later. 

Twice in 2021, the State Senate rejected a proposed Constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting, after it passed the House.

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