Bill would set rules for charitable games and Alaska ferry gaming

Eligible organizations and licensed operators could run certain games on Alaska ferries with a state permit. A municipality or qualified organization with a gaming permit, or a person, municipality, or qualified organization with an operator's license, could seek a permit for a vessel. Games must take place in designated areas within three nautical miles of Alaska's coast; dining areas, spaces mainly for children, and passenger cabins cannot be designated. Only people age 21 or older may play. Operators must pay the state 10% of gross gaming receipts and keep transaction records for inspection. The bill's general effective date is January 1, 2027.

The bill text sets operating, equipment, and payment rules for pull-tab games and electronic pull-tab systems. These provisions address electronic pull-tab systems and vendor sales for permittees. Electronic systems may take cash or debit cards, but not credit cards; they must show results and prizes, and may not imitate slot machine reels or dispense anything of value. A vendor's share of adjusted gross income is capped at 30% for paper pull-tabs and 25% for electronic pull-tabs. Vendors must pay permittees, or pay distributors on their behalf, by the 15th of each month. The bill's general effective date is January 1, 2027.

The bill text sets yearly prize limits for charitable gaming. The limits apply to municipalities, qualified organizations, and holders of multiple-beneficiary permits. The $2 million annual limit covers games other than bingo and electronic pull-tabs; a qualifying skill contest may exclude $1 million in prizes from that limit. Electronic pull-tab prizes have a separate $4 million annual limit for each municipality or qualified organization. Multiple-beneficiary permit holders have limits multiplied by the number of holders. Beginning in 2030, the department may raise the listed limits by up to 10% once every five years.