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Minnesota Governor’s Appointments to Racing Commission Raise Questions

Collins Garrett

Updated on June 28, 2024 at 9:35 AM EDT • Read in 58 seconds. Find more information on Twitter and Google News.

Dornoch with Luis Saez up in the lead down the final front stretch as we look at recent appointments to the Minnesota Racing Commission
Dornoch with Luis Saez up in the lead down the final front stretch followed by Mindframe with Irad Ortiz Jr.. Photo by: Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports.

On June 21, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced the appointment of two new members to the state’s Racing Commission. Mille Lacs, Chief Executive of the Band of Ojibwe, and Johnny Johnson, former president of the Prairie Island Indian Community, will be joining the nine-member commission overseeing horse racing in the state. Some of our top sports betting sites feature horse racing options.

The appointments were announced on Friday evening, catching track operators and others involved in the Minnesota sports betting scene off guard. Benjamin and Johoson had only submitted their nominations for the positions the day before the announcement.

The appointments

The appointments were made after the commission’s approval in April by a margin of 5-1 for the use of game terminals that enable betting on randomly selected historical horse races.

The presence of casinos operated by the tribes of both Lacs and Johnson in Minnesota raised concerns about conflicts of interest for the commission overseeing the industry. Regulating potential competitors and having access to confidential information about their operations could pose challenges. For those interested in horse racing betting, be sure to consult our guide on how to bet on horse racing and our recommended best horse racing betting sites.

Governor Waltz stood by his decisions by explaining, “The Racing Commission is responsible for overseeing the industry, and our esteemed leaders, President Johnson and Chief Executive Benjamin, are highly knowledgeable about gambling regulation in the state.”

Waltz described the pair as “two individuals who grasp the concept of responsibility and are genuinely good people.”

Written By:
Collins Garrett
Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We’re going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won’t catch it, but we’re going to relentlessly chase it,” Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.