Inside the Capitol: Gold and Silver Cannot Save

By MINNESOTA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

Across the country, the conversation around sports gambling continues to heat up, with 38 states already having passed laws to legalize the practice. Proponents argue that it generates revenue, but the data from states that have legalized sports betting tell a darker story. Instead of economic windfalls, these states have seen increased financial instability, rising debt, and other alarming social consequences. Now some of these states are already rethinking legalization. Unfortunately, Minnesota is in the crosshairs, with sports gambling advocates once again planning to press lawmakers during the 2025 legislative session.

The Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC) has long stood against this effort, and we are not alone. As a member of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC), we work alongside the Islamic Center of Minnesota, the Jewish Community Relations Council, and the Minnesota Council of Churches to advocate for policies that promote the dignity of every individual and protect those most vulnerable in our state. Legalized sports gambling, especially its online form where users can bet directly from their phone, threatens these very principles.

The data coming from states where sports betting is legal is distressing. According to a Northwestern University study, legal sports gambling drains household finances. For every dollar spent on gambling, two dollars are pulled out of savings or investment accounts. This is especially concerning for already struggling families who are trying to make ends meet. Worse yet, a study from economists at UCLA and the University of Southern California reveals that the likelihood of household bankruptcy increases by 25 to 30 percent in states with legalized online sports gambling.

These financial risks are just the tip of the iceberg. Research shows that legal gambling also increases social harms. For instance, a study from the University of Oregon found a direct link between sports betting and incidents of intimate-partner violence, with a nine percent increase in domestic violence incidents in states where gambling is legal. These figures are sobering and highlight the far-reaching and unintended consequences that gambling can have on individuals, families, and communities.

Despite these dangers, each year Minnesota lawmakers come closer to legalizing mobile sports betting. The arguments in favor often focus on generating state revenue or "modernizing" our gambling laws, but this overlooks the profound human cost. The experience of other states shows that while sports gambling might bring in revenue, it also leaves behind a trail of financial ruin and social harm.

MCC and JRLC are dedicated to ensuring that online sports betting does not take root in Minnesota. As people of faith, we must stand firm against proposals that harm the vulnerable and undermine the common good. The dangers of online sports betting are clear. We have the responsibility to advocate for a better future.

If you share these concerns, we encourage you to make your voice heard. Contact your legislators today and urge them to oppose the legalization of online sports betting in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Catholic Conference has been the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Minnesota since 1967. The voting members of the MCC's board of directors are Minnesota's Catholic bishops.