It’s almost certain now that any Vikings stadium will have to be funded by an expansion of gambling. Since Mark Dayton and the legislature ruled out a sales tax, gambling is really the only option left. That’s going to hurt tribes, who rely on gambling to bring in the vast majority of their revenues. So this is really adding insult to injury:

Governor Dayton says he’s open to asking the state’s tribal leaders for a contribution to pay for a new Vikings stadium.

Dayton’s spokeswoman told MPR News that Dayton’s deputy chief of staff met with lobbyists representing the Mille Lacs Band of the Ojibwe and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Those tribes run two of the largest tribal casinos in the state. Dayton told MPR News that he hasn’t spoken directly with tribal leaders but he endorsed the idea of asking them to make a contribution to help pay for a stadium.

Just to let you know, we’re going to fund a new Vikings stadium with a state-sponsored competitor to your casinos. Hey, by the way, would you mind giving us some of your casino revenues, too? Zygi Wilf is really demanding a lot of money.