A measure that has the potential to raise purses at Canterbury Park
up to 40 percent overwhelmingly passed both houses of the Minnesota
legislature on Tuesday and awaits the signature of Governor Mark Dayton.
An
amendment to a bill allows a significant expansion of gambling at
Canterbury Park as well as Running Aces Harness Park. Under provisions
of the amendment, the maximum number of table games at the tracks can be
increased from 50 to 80; betting limits will rise from $60 to $100; the
limit on the number of poker tournaments and tournament tables the
tracks can run will be removed; and the rules of playing many of the
table games will change from being “player banked” to being “house
banked.” In a player-banked game, poker players compete against one
another while paying a small fee per hand to the house. The switch to a
house-banked game would allow players to compete directly against the
house, the same way table games are played in Minnesota Native American
casinos as well as casinos around the country.
Another key
provision, which was hammered out between horse racing and casino
interests, allows for the existing racetracks to conduct simulcasting
and off-track betting at Native American casinos.
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