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Gambling Control Board: Receipts Slow; Board Approves Licensing, Fund-loss and Contribution Requests
Summary
At its Feb. 18 meeting, the Gambling Control Board heard a director’s report showing recent slowing receipts and approved multiple routine exhibits, including a $34,000 fund-loss request and several licensing actions. The board also discussed ongoing legislation and outreach work.
The Gambling Control Board met Feb. 18 and approved a series of licensing and administrative items after hearing a director’s report that said industry receipts have slowed and that staff will continue monitoring how new electronic pull-tab standards affect sales.
Director Wade, the board’s executive director, opened the substantive portion of the meeting with an industry overview: “Receipts are slowing, so that's what I'll tell you right now. So if we look at the first 6 months of 23 to 24 and the first 6 months of 24 to 25, they're down about 10%,” Wade said. He added that the agency’s numbers are based on reports submitted by operators and therefore can change if filings are late or amended.
Wade also noted short-term movement in electronic pull-tab sales after standards changed earlier this year: “When we look at the first 16 days of February '25 versus January '25, they're up 10% February against January. So when we looked at January '25 versus January '24, they were down about 20%,” he said, emphasizing the small sample size and the agency’s intent to continue monitoring trends.
The board received routine staffing and budget updates. Wade said a licensing position was posted and drew 44 applicants in two weeks, and that staff expect to begin interviews the following week. He said the board’s operating budget remains under projection with no unexpected costs reported.
On legislation, Wade told the board staff were tracking bills that could affect lawful charitable gambling. He reported attending a Senate committee hearing where a sports-wagering bill — described in the meeting as “Senate file 7 57” — did not advance, and he said staff would monitor two House Veterans Committee bills the next day, including one described in the meeting as seeking repeal of recent electronic-protective standards.
Board committee chairs gave brief updates. The legislative committee met Jan. 31 for preliminary discussion of possible rule or statutory changes and to exchange ideas with the director. The education and outreach committee reported work on a website update intended to be more useful to managers and the public, and said staff are exploring partial multilingual support and additional training outreach to reduce training noncompliance among managers.
During the session the board approved multiple exhibits and routine items by voice vote. Among the actions, the board approved a fund-loss request the board described as significant to the applicant organization; enforcement manager Brett McKeever clarified that a related fund-loss matter had occurred shortly before the request under consideration. “It was within, it was just previous to the fund loss we're dealing with here,” McKeever said. The board’s verbal remarks identified the amount at roughly $34,000, and the board approved the request.
Votes at a glance - Approve agenda (voice vote): approved. - Approve minutes from Jan. 21, 2025 (voice vote): approved. - Exhibit I (exclusive use for LPE; motion recommended approval): approved. - Exhibit K (contribution of gambling funds to another licensed gambling organization; motion recommended approval): approved. - Exhibit M (fund-loss request; motion recommended approval): approved. Transcript discussion referenced a roughly $34,000 loss and noted a closely timed prior fund-loss matter; enforcement manager Brett McKeever addressed the board before the vote. - Exhibit Q (license termination plans; motion recommended approval): approved. - Exhibit S (manufacturer’s games; motion recommended approval): approved.
The meeting lasted a short session with limited debate on individual exhibits; most approvals were made without extended discussion. Wade and committee members emphasized continued monitoring of industry receipts and the potential consequences of pending legislation. The board set its next meeting for Monday, March 17, at 10 a.m. at the Gambling Control Board office.
The board’s discussions included staff-direction-level items (monitor legislation; continue industry sales monitoring) and formal board actions (approvals listed above). No contested roll-call vote or recorded dissent appears in the transcript; approvals were taken by voice vote and the minutes indicate motions carried.
