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Bill to allow electronic pull tabs framed as way to boost nonprofit revenue; committee raises social‑cost concerns
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Summary
Sponsors told the committee HB386 would modernize charitable pull tabs by permitting electronic tablet play and retain prize caps; the Department of Revenue estimated $0.5M–$5.5M in additional revenue. Members weighed revenue gains for nonprofits against potential expansion of gambling availability and asked for more detailed charity revenue examples.
Conrad Jackson, staff to Senator Bjorkman, presented HB386 to modernize Alaska's charitable gaming laws by permitting electronic pull tabs (e‑tabs) played on tablets while avoiding casino‑style cabinets. Jackson said the bill is designed to preserve the social, table‑based character of pull‑tabs while making charitable gaming financially viable in the face of rising costs for paper tickets.
Jackson described a tiered manufacturer–distributor–permittee model and provided a chart (distributed to members) showing typical splits: manufacturers/distributors, permittees, vendors and a 3% state tax on gaming. He said the Department of Revenue estimates the change could raise roughly $500,000 to $5.5 million, and said electronic play has increased total gaming sales in other states.
Members asked detailed questions about revenue splits for charities versus vendors and operators, whether tablets or cabinet machines would change social outcomes, and the potential link between increased availability of gaming and gambling addiction. Co‑chair Fields emphasized avoiding a shift toward casino‑style cabinets and the panel requested concrete examples of how much a charity would receive under current and proposed models.
The committee set the bill aside for further hearings so staff can provide comparatives and permittees can offer charity‑level examples.
