Dayton vows to veto bill banning expansion of Minnesota Lottery

Governor Mark Dayton has threatened to repeat his veto of a bill banning the online expansion of the Minnesota Lottery.

While marking the state lottery's 25th anniversary, Dayton accused outside gambling groups of being behind the push to ban the sale of lottery tickets through the internet, ATMs and gas pumps, KARE 11 reports.

Supporters of the proposal say gambling shouldn't be so convenient and that the lottery has expanded without legislative approval.

"If the same legislation that I vetoed last year reaches my desk, I’ll veto it again, and I’ll do my best to prevent an override," Dayton said, according to MPR. "Look at the campaign contributions to legislators and to the caucuses if you want to understand, at least in my subjective view, why this thing has got so much steam."

The latest attempt to ban web and self-service lottery sales is being championed by Republican Rep. Greg Davids, who called Dayton's accusations about campaign cash motivating the bill as a "real cheap shot," the Pioneer Press reports.

Dayton questioned why people are objecting to the expansion of the lottery, given that it hands over $70 million in revenue to the state each year.