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Council tables gambling permit for River LS hockey, seeks clarification on community benefit
Summary
The Paynesville City Council voted to table a gambling-permit application for River LS hockey after members raised concerns that directing all gambling proceeds to a single nonprofit could reduce revenue for long-established charitable organizations; council asked staff to meet with applicants and explore broader community-impact options.
Council members discussed a gambling-permit application for River LS hockey that, if approved, would authorize multiple gambling activities (pull tabs, paper and machine bingo, electronic pull-tabs, link bingo, paddle wheel) at an establishment. Some members voiced concern that routing proceeds primarily to a single nonprofit could divert funding from long-standing community organizations such as the Legion and the Lions, which currently give substantial local donations.
Council members said they were not necessarily opposed to the concept but wanted assurances about how proceeds would be used and whether the applicants would consider a model with broader community benefit. One councilor suggested tabling the application to allow time to speak with the applicants; that motion carried unanimously.
The council asked staff to invite the applicants to the EDAP meeting and to report back on whether the applicants would commit to distributing funds to a wider set of local charitable needs or to explain their intended distribution plan.
