AlaskaAlaska bill sets rules for electronic pull-tab games and operators
Operators would need state approval to run electronic pull-tabs, while the devices, games, and businesses handling them would face payment and prize rules.
What it does
Operators would need a separate state endorsement to run electronic pull-tabs for a municipality or nonprofit group. At first, they would also need three years of pull-tab experience.
Electronic pull-tab devices would have to show results and follow rules for payments, displays, and sales. Vendors could keep no more than 25 percent of sales after prizes.
Municipalities and nonprofit groups would face annual prize limits. Manufacturers and distributors would have to follow rules on gifts, business ties, and gaming equipment.
Argument forLimits on credit card purchases and slot-like displays could help players see their results clearly and avoid buying pull-tabs with borrowed money.
Argument againstLimits on tablet numbers and vendor shares could make it harder for some locations to offer electronic pull-tabs or keep enough proceeds to run them.
More detail
Operators may run electronic pull-tabs for a municipality or qualified organization only with a separate state endorsement. This applies when an operator conducts electronic pull-tab games for a municipality or qualified organization. The Department of Revenue may issue the endorsement only if the operator has filed required reports and its license was not revoked in the previous five years. For the first period, the operator must also have conducted pull-tab games for at least the preceding three years; that condition is removed beginning January 1, 2031. If an individual operator dies, the estate may name a temporary responsible person for up to 120 days. Most provisions would take effect January 1, 2027. The change removing the three-year experience condition would take effect January 1, 2031.
The bill text sets rules for electronic pull-tab devices, games, and payments. These rules cover electronic pull-tab games and devices, and vendors and permit holders who handle them. Devices may accept cash or debit cards, but not credit cards, and may not handle sales unrelated to gaming or display slot-machine-style spinning reels. Each game series may have no more than 15,000 tickets and may not charge extra for extended play. A responsible person must oversee the games on site, and tablet numbers at each location are limited by the size of the premises, with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 25. For electronic pull-tabs, a vendor may keep no more than 25 percent of receipts after prizes. Vendors must pay permit holders for the previous month's sales by the 15th; late payment requires the distributor to disable the games until payment is made. Most provisions would take effect January 1, 2027. Vendors would report monthly and pay permit holders for the previous month's sales by the 15th.
The bill text sets annual prize limits and business rules for charitable gaming. These provisions cover municipalities, qualified organizations, operators, manufacturers, and distributors involved in charitable gaming. Municipalities and qualified organizations could award up to $2 million in annual prizes for covered activities, with a separate $4 million annual limit for electronic pull-tabs; exceptions apply to some skill contests and multiple-beneficiary permits. Manufacturers and distributors would face limits on gifts, business ties, and help installing gaming systems. Manufacturers could make a paper pull-tab game exclusive to one distributor for its first five years, with an exception when that distributor sells only to one licensee. Beginning in 2030, the Department of Revenue could raise certain annual prize limits by regulation by up to 10 percent, once every five years. Most provisions would take effect January 1, 2027. The department could begin raising certain prize limits by regulation in 2030.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 19(H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --Latest
- May 19(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 19(H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to 9:00 am --
- May 19(H) FINANCE at 08:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 18(H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Recessed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 18(H) FINANCE at 06:00 PM ADAMS 519
- May 18(H) -- Public Testimony -- -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 18(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 18(H) -- Public Testimony -- -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 18(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 15(H) REFERRED TO FINANCEMinor
- May 15(H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C
- May 15(H) FN3: (REV)
- May 15(H) AM: SADDLER, D.NELSON
- May 15(H) NR: COULOMBE
- May 15(H) DP: FRIER, FIELDS, HALL
- May 15(H) TITLE CHANGE: HCR 22
- May 15(H) L&C RPT HCS(L&C) NEW TITLE 3DP 1NR 2AM
- May 14(H) Moved HCS CSSB 170(L&C) Out of Committee -- Please Note Location Change --
- May 14(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 08:00 AM BARNES 124
- May 13(H) Heard & Held -- Recessed to 08:00 am 5/14--
- May 13(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
- May 13(H) L&C
- May 13(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- May 12(S) VERSION: CSSB 170(FIN)
- Vote recorded (S) PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION Y17 N3 #2598. Result: pass.Upper
- May 12(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)Major
- May 12(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- May 12(S) PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION Y17 N3Passed House
- May 12(S) RECON TAKEN UP - IN THIRD READINGMinor
- May 11(H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
- Vote recorded (S) RECON TAKEN UP SAME DAY FLD VOTE Y11 N9 #2580. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded (S) PASSED Y14 N6 #2575. Result: pass.Upper
- May 11(H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124
- May 11(S) RECON TAKEN UP SAME DAY FLD VOTE Y11 N9
- May 11(S) KIEHL NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION
- May 11(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- May 11(S) PASSED Y14 N6Passed Senate
- May 11(S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 170(FIN)Minor
- May 8(S) COSPONSOR(S): YUNDT, CRONK, MERRICK
- May 8(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/11 CALMinor
- May 8(S) FIN CS ADOPTED UC
- May 8(S) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- May 8(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/8/2026
- Apr 1(S) FN3: (REV)
- Apr 1(S) FN2: INDETERMINATE(DOT)
- Apr 1(S) DNP: KIEHL
- Apr 1(S) NR: STEDMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK
- Apr 1(S) DP: OLSON, HOFFMAN
- Apr 1(S) FIN RPT CS 2DP 4NR 1DNP NEW TITLE
- Mar 24(S) Moved CSSB 170(FIN) Out of Committee
- Mar 24(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
- Feb 24(S) Heard & Held
- Feb 24(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
- Feb 4(S) FN1: (REV)
- Feb 4(S) NR: DUNBAR, MERRICK, GRAY-JACKSON, YUNDT
- Feb 4(S) DP: BJORKMAN
- Feb 4(S) L&C RPT CS 1DP 4NR SAME TITLE
- Feb 2(S) Minutes (SL&C)
- Feb 2(S) Moved CSSB 170(L&C) Out of Committee
- Feb 2(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Jan 26(S) Minutes (SL&C)
- Jan 26(S) Heard & Held
- Jan 26(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- 2025
- May 7(S) Minutes (SL&C)
- May 7(S) Heard & Held
- May 7(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- May 2(S) Minutes (SL&C)
- May 2(S) Heard & Held
- May 2(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Apr 28(S) Minutes (SL&C)
- Apr 28(S) Heard & Held
- Apr 28(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Apr 16(S) Minutes (SL&C)
- Apr 16(S) Heard & Held
- Apr 16(S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Apr 11(S) L&C, FIN
- Apr 11(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSIntroduced
Consumer Protection