The e-pull tabs not only help charities but are also a major funding source for U.S. Forcing charities to go back to older technology would be like going back to flip phones and wouldn’t be as popular or profitable, he said. Paul Park who leads the charity group.įranke says the courts technically didn’t rule the games illegal, and his group urges lawmakers not to take that step.

“Changing the rules would be devastating to these organizations,” said Keith Franke, a bar and restaurant owner in St. Hudella and other lawmakers urging the House and Senate not to ban the games. Meanwhile, the group Protect our Charities held a news conference Thursday with Rep. Plato adds they are not trying to hurt charitable causes and hopes the Legislature can do something to help the charities. “Current e-games have evolved beyond both the plain reading and intent of the current statute.” “This clarification of game features is not an elimination of electronic pull tabs or bingo,” says Andy Plato, executive director of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. The Minnesota Court of Appeals agreed and now the Legislature is considering banning those specific devices. Native American tribes say those electronic pull tabs started to look and operate too much like slot machines, which only the tribes are allowed to operate in Minnesota. “The absolute only thing that the language does in this bill is hurt Minnesota charities.”Īt issue are e-pull tabs that require just one touch to activate multiple rows of characters to determine if a player has won anything. “Today is about taking care of our veterans, our firefighters, our Lions Clubs and literally every youth sports organization and association in the State of Minnesota,” said Rep. Charitable gaming organizations push back on proposed e-pull tab law changeĬharitable gaming organizations across Minnesota say they could lose millions of dollars if the House and Senate adopt a new law prohibiting certain e-pull tab games.

Gambling pull tab images