Townships permitted to regulate lawful gambling.

This bill grants Minnesota townships the authority to regulate lawful gambling within their borders, a power previously held only by cities and counties. Under the new rules, townships can charge investigation fees of up to $100 for gambling permits and require local approval from the township board before any gambling premises permit is issued. Additionally, townships may impose a local gambling tax of up to three percent on gross receipts to cover regulation costs and mandate that gambling organizations contribute ten percent of their net profits to local funds for charity or public safety services. The legislation also allows townships to adopt stricter gambling regulations or prohibit certain types of gambling, such as paddlewheels, provided these rules apply equally to all forms of lawful gambling in the area.