ST. PAUL – State Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, said House Democrat legislation would effectively end electronic pull tabs as we know them, dramatically reducing revenue generated for local charities and other organizations.
Language in the majority’s omnibus tax bill (H.F. 1938) eliminates the “open all” feature that has been in use in electronic pull-tab games for years. Banning this feature, Hudson said, would diminish charitable gaming funds these popular games produce, stifling a critical revenue source for local charities ranging from veteran organizations to youth sports teams, Main Street business partners and beyond.
“Democrats would deny communities throughout Minnesota the ability to effectively fundraise for athletics, public safety, food shelves, and veterans, all to provide a political kickback to their tribal patrons,” Hudson said. “I stood proudly in support of the Indian Family Preservation Act earlier this session, as did my Republican colleagues, because we believed it was the right thing to do. Denying communities their ability to fundraise is not the right thing to do. Democrats should be ashamed.”
Hudson said, in 2022 alone, electronic pull tabs generated almost $2 billion in revenue that was then invested into communities. Without this critical revenue stream, Hudson said much of the charitable efforts Minnesotans currently benefit from would not be possible.
“The damage that would be caused by this provision not only threatens local charities, but also would deal a blow to bars and restaurants in our communities,” Hudson said. “The last thing people need amid today’s rampant price increases and workforce shortages is for Democrats to cut them off at the knees by stifling a valuable source of revenue.”
Hudson said he continues working with House Democrats to remove this provision from the tax bill before it is put to a vote, but added it's critical legislators hear directly from charities, bars, restaurants, VFWs, and other community organizations so they understand just how serious the consequences would be if this provision is passed.
More information regarding this bill and contact information for legislators can be found at www.house.mn.gov.
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