January 29, 2025 3 min read

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North Dakota Bill Proposes to Eliminate Gambling Commission

While the proposal seeks to streamline the way gambling regulations are implemented, industry stakeholders warned about the dangers such change may have

A new bill, proposing to streamline the regulation of gambling in North Dakota by eliminating the state’s Gaming Commission recently picked up speed.

SB 2224, Greenlighted by Judiciary Committee

The proposal was introduced earlier this month by Sens. Janne Myrdal and Larry Luick. On Tuesday this week, Senate Bill 2224 (SB 2224) gained traction after a 4-3 vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Calling for a major overhaul in the processes related to regulating the gambling sector, SB 2224 proposes changes to the North Dakota Century Code, “relating to the abolition of the gaming commission and the authorization of the attorney general to administer and regulate gaming.”

After the recent green light by the Judiciary Committee, the bill is now heading to the Senate floor. The proposal is expected to be reviewed by lawmakers on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

In case SB 2224 receives approval from lawmakers and is signed into law, the North Dakota Attorney General’s office will have the authority to regulate gambling activities across the state. This will effectively eliminate the state Gaming Commission.

Under the existing regulatory framework, the Attorney General can propose rules related to the gambling sector which are subsequently reviewed by the Gaming Commission. As an independent Commission, it can review the proposed changes and either approve or reject them. After that process, the Attorney General’s Office receives the proposed rules and can then send them to the state’s Administrative Rules Committee.

However, under the proposed change, the process is expected to be expedited as the proposed rules wouldn’t be required to go through the Gaming Commission. Instead, the Attorney General will be able to propose rules and send them directly to the Administrative Rules Committee, which in the end will give final approval before the implementation of the changes.

Opponents Voice Their Concerns

The proposal’s primary sponsor, Sen. Myrdal, who was recently quoted by The Bismarck Tribune, pointed to a call by the governor for review to be conducted regarding all commissions and boards throughout the state to determine which ones are functioning and which ones are not. She added: “This came to me from some concerned entities that felt like this particular commission in its duties — which they faithfully execute, obviously — is really a step that we can eliminate in the gaming industry.”

While the proposal seeks to streamline the way gambling-related regulations are implemented, not everyone agrees with this process. According to Scott Meske, a lobbyist for the North Dakota Gaming Alliance: “Our founders knew that it would be a bad idea to give too much power to one single body.”

He warned that SB 2224 does precisely this by granting the Attorney General the power to regulate gambling. Meske pointed to the great work done by the Attorney General that helped grow the state’s gambling industry. However, he warned that the removal of such vital reviews and checks “sets a very precarious precedent.”

Journalist

Jerome brings a wealth of journalistic experience within the iGaming sector. His interest in the industry began after graduating from college, where he regularly participated in local poker tournaments. This exposure led him to the growing popularity of online poker and casino rooms. Jerome now channels all the knowledge he's accrued to fuel his passion for journalism, providing our team with the latest scoops online.

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