House committee approves electronic pull tabs for veterans and fraternal organizations

The House Public Policy Committee voted 12-0 to pass Senate Bill 209 as amended, a bill that would authorize bona fide veterans and fraternal organizations that hold an Indiana charitable gaming license to offer electronic pull tabs at a single fixed location.

The amendment narrows the bill to veterans and fraternal organizations, requires organizations to have existed for five years (or to obtain a charity gaming license), and caps device counts to 3, 5, or 7 depending on occupancy. Senator Kyle Walker, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure “modernizes the charitable gaming allowed by bona fide veterans and fraternal organizations” while maintaining protections drawn from prior legislation.

Supporters told the committee the change would help aging veterans’ posts raise funds and recruit new members. Mark Golligan, who identified himself as a past state commander of the American Legion Department of Indiana, said the…