Thursday, June 5, 2014

MIGA'S ANNUAL GOLF TOURNEY SET FOR JUNE 23

The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA) will host its 21st annual golf tournament on Monday, June 23 at The Meadows at Mystic Lake. The event is MIGA's primary fundraising activity, with proceeds augmenting the organization's budget for education and advocacy programs.

"We're proud of MIGA's record of advocacy on behalf of all Minnesota tribes, and we have been blessed with very strong support from the vendors and suppliers who share our commitment to Indian gaming," said MIGA Executive Director John McCarthy. "Our annual golf tournament is a great way to bring everyone in the Minnesota Indian gaming community together for a day of fun and fellowship."

The Meadows at Mystic Lake is an award-winning course, named one of the top ten casino golf courses in the country by Golfweek Magazine in 2009, and one of the top ten new golf courses in the country by Golf Digest in 2006.  It is noted for its spectacular setting, surrounded by 11 acres of wildflowers and other native prairie plantings with 80 bunkers, 13 holes with water, 20 fountains, and a 2,500-foot stream with four waterfalls. The USGA has rated The Meadows as 74.7 with a slope rating of 145.

Golfers will tee off at 10 am in a three-person scramble with two teams on a box. Participation is limited to 36 teams. Vendors may sponsor a hole for $2,500, or a hole and a team for $3,100.  An awards ceremony and buffet will follow at approximately 4:00 pm

The deadline for sponsor and team registration is Friday, June 13. For more information contact MIGA by email.


Monday, June 2, 2014

GOVERNOR VETOES BILL PROHIBITING ONLINE LOTTERY SCRATCH-OFF SALES

Governor Mark Dayton has vetoed SF 2642, a bill prohibiting the sale of lottery scratch-off tickets on the internet, at gas pump terminals and at ATMs. The Governor announced his veto on Friday, May 30, in a letter to Senator Sandra Pappas, President of the Minnesota Senate. 

The bill passed with a strong bipartisan majority on the last day of the 2014 session after legislators expressed concern that Lottery officials had exceeded their authority by expanding into online ticket sales. Supporters had a strong enough majority to override a veto, but because the action came after the legislature had adjourned, they are unable to do so.

In his veto letter, Dayton rejected the argument that online lottery ticket sales represented an unauthorized expansion of the Lottery's powers. "It appears to me that the Executive Director is operating within the scope of his legislatively-established authority," wrote the Governor.

Rep. Joe Hoppe (R-Chanhassen) believes the governor's veto will lead to a strong anti-lottery bill next session, according to a May 30 Associated Press story by Amy Forliti. "In effect what the governor is saying is, it's OK for his lottery director, without consent of the Legislature...to sell tickets anywhere, anyhow in the state of Minnesota. I don't think that's right, and I think an overwhelming majority of the Legislature agrees with me. This will not stand," Hoppe is quoted as saying.
 
Anti-gambling expansion organizations, charities, gas station operators and convenience store owners were among the most active supporters of SF 2642. The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association (MIGA) did not take an official position on the bill, but the association has opposed further expansion of gambling in Minnesota since 1992.