BISMARCK – A resolution that would have placed a measure on the ballot to allow sports betting failed in the North Dakota State Senate Monday.
House Bill 3002 would have placed a constitutional measure to allow the legislative assembly to authorize sports betting in the state on the November 2024 ballot .
“Your Judiciary committee read and heard very troubling testimony by the NDSU chancellor and others about the serious concern of what is happening in other state campuses regarding sports betting,” said Sen. Larry Luick, R-Dis. 25, Fairmount. “Right now the U.S. Senate is investigating 60 four-year campuses because of underage gambling.”
Luick said one in five people who struggle with problem-gambling take their own life.
Sen. Scott Meyer, R-Dis. 18, Grand Forks, said the resolution would not expand sports betting in North Dakota because it is already happening in the state.
“What this is planning on doing is regulating this industry,” said Meyer. “I will be supporting HCR3002 which allows our state citizens to decide if they want to allow sports betting.”
Meyer said tens of thousands of North Dakotans are already participating and wagering millions of dollars each year in sports betting.
“A no vote on 3002 will not stop the money from leaving our state, and it won’t provide any protection to our state citizens that choose to participate,” said Meyer.
Some senators said most of the people they have spoken to are in favor of the measure being placed on the ballot, while other senators said they have heard the opposite and do not wish to be seen as endorsing sports betting.
The resolution failed on a 30 to 16 vote.
