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Pull-tab

A pull-tab is a metal ring attached to a scored section of a can lid that, when pulled, detaches the scored portion to create an opening for accessing the contents, primarily used on aluminum beverage cans.^[1] Invented by American engineer Ermal C. Fraze in response to the inconvenience of traditional can openers, the pull-tab was patented in 1963 and first commercially implemented on beer cans by the Falls City Brewing Company in 1964, facilitating tool-free opening and boosting the portability of canned drinks.^[2]^[3] The initial detachable design achieved widespread adoption but generated substantial litter, with billions of tabs discarded annually by the 1970s, contributing to environmental degradation in public spaces and waterways and spurring anti-litter campaigns.^[4]^[5] To address these issues, the non-detachable "stay-on tab," which remains attached to the can after opening, was introduced by Reynolds Metals in 1975, significantly reducing litter while preserving ease of use.^[5]

History

Origins in the 1970s

Pull-tab games, known alternatively as break-open or instant bingo tickets, originated in the United States during the 1970s as a regulated fundraising mechanism for nonprofit organizations, supplanting prior informal and frequently illegal practices like the sale of chances from pickle jars. These jars, often used to conceal and dispense tickets in bars or informal settings, skirted gambling prohibitions but lacked verifiable prize structures and oversight, prompting the development of sealed, tamper-evident pull-tab formats to ensure fairness and compliance with emerging charitable gambling laws.^[6]^[7] The design emphasized accessibility for non-casino venues such as taverns and community centers, featuring perforated tabs that players pulled to expose hidden symbols or numbers for immediate win verification, typically without requiring dice, cards, or trained dealers. This simplicity allowed organizations to distribute prizes on-site via cash or checks, minimizing operational complexity while adhering to standards set by bodies like the National Association of Fundraising Ticket Manufacturers (NAFTM), which promoted uniform manufacturing to prevent fraud. Early variants included basic matching games with payouts averaging 75-80% of sales, calibrated to balance player appeal and net proceeds for causes.^[8]^[9] Adoption accelerated among veterans' organizations, fraternal orders, and churches seeking efficient alternatives to traditional bingo, which demanded larger venues and extended sessions; pull-tabs enabled compact, rapid play yielding verifiable funds—often thousands per event—without skilled facilitation, as evidenced by initial successes in states legalizing charitable gambling, such as North Dakota's 1977 framework that spurred Midwest proliferation. Empirical records from the era document raised contributions supporting hall maintenance and community programs, attributing efficacy to the format's low barrier to entry and transparent mechanics over predecessors' opacity.^[8]^[10]^[7]

Expansion and Charitable Adoption

The legalization of pull-tabs as a form of charitable gambling in Minnesota in 1981, building on a 1978 law permitting such activities in licensed liquor establishments, catalyzed their rapid expansion across the Midwest during the 1980s and 1990s.^[11]^[8] These paper-based instant-win tickets quickly supplanted less efficient fundraising methods like raffles and bingo for nonprofits, offering higher profit margins—often 50-70% of gross sales after prizes—due to low operational costs and straightforward gameplay that encouraged repeat purchases in casual settings.^[11] Veterans' groups, fraternal orders, and community organizations adopted pull-tabs en masse, as the format allowed scalable sales without the logistical demands of event-based gambling, directly channeling proceeds to causes such as youth sports, housing assistance, and local services.^[8] This growth intertwined with tavern culture, particularly in Minnesota, where bars integrated pull-tab dispensers to generate supplemental revenue through commissions—typically 10-30% of sales—amid stagnant alcohol profits and economic stagnation in rural and working-class areas.^[8]^[11] By allowing licensed organizations to rent bar space or conduct direct sales, state laws created a symbiotic model: establishments boosted foot traffic and off-peak earnings, while charities accessed a steady, high-volume customer base of patrons seeking low-stakes entertainment.^[11] The Charitable Gambling Control Board, formed in 1984 to oversee licensing and compliance, standardized operations and mitigated early irregularities like unregistered sales, enabling regulated proliferation without stifling adoption.^[11] By 1989, Minnesota's charitable gambling gross receipts surpassed $1 billion annually, with pull-tabs accounting for the majority and yielding tens of millions in state taxes alongside hundreds of millions for nonprofits.^[11]^[8] This expansion mirrored trends in neighboring Midwest states like Wisconsin and North Dakota, where similar nonprofit gambling statutes from the late 1970s onward embedded pull-tabs in bar ecosystems, amassing cumulative charitable revenues in the billions regionally by the 1990s through sustained, localized play.^[8] As a testament to the model's viability, Minnesota's pull-tab-dominated charitable gambling reached $4.6 billion in gross receipts by fiscal year 2023, underscoring decades of compounded growth from mid-20th-century policy shifts favoring accessible, margin-rich games over labor-intensive alternatives.

Shift to Electronic Formats

The transition to electronic pull-tabs in the United States commenced in Minnesota with legislative authorization in 2012, aimed at generating revenue for the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium.^[12]^[13] This marked a departure from traditional paper pull-tabs, introducing tablet-based systems that allowed for rapid, automated gameplay on devices resembling iPads, thereby accommodating higher play volumes compared to manual paper dispensing.^[14] Minnesota regulators approved the first electronic pull-tab games in September 2012, with initial deployments in select bars shortly thereafter, including pilot operations that expanded by late 2012.^[13]^[15] The shift was propelled by demands for enhanced efficiency and features mimicking video slots, such as quicker reveals and multi-game interfaces, which paper formats could not match without physical limitations on dispensing speed.^[16] Early adoption faced hurdles, including technical integration and player familiarity, resulting in modest sales of approximately $90 million by 2016, even as paper pull-tabs continued to dominate charitable gambling revenue.^[14] However, by the late 2010s, electronic formats gained traction, contributing to a surge in overall pull-tab sales; for instance, electronic pull-tab receipts rose sharply from 2018 onward, helping propel total charitable gambling expenditures past $1 billion annually in Minnesota.^[14]^[17] This electronic pivot introduced scalability challenges, as the accelerated pace enabled by digital systems outstripped the logistical constraints of paper production and distribution, leading to exponential revenue growth but straining regulatory oversight on volume and verification by the late 2010s.^[16] Minnesota's model, as one of the earliest adopters, influenced subsequent implementations in other states, though adoption varied due to differing charitable gambling frameworks.^[16] By 2019, combined paper and electronic pull-tab sales in Minnesota exceeded prior benchmarks, underscoring the format's role in amplifying participation rates.^[14]

Mechanics and Variants

Paper Pull-Tab Design and Gameplay

Paper pull-tab tickets consist of multi-layered paper cards, typically measuring approximately the size of a business card, featuring 3 to 5 perforated tabs or windows on the reverse side that conceal slot machine-style symbols such as cherries, 7s, bars, and bells.^[18]^[19] The front of the ticket displays a legend indicating winning combinations and corresponding prize amounts, while the symbols under the tabs determine the outcome upon revelation.^[20] These tickets are distributed in sealed deals or packs to maintain integrity, with manufacturers ensuring that winning and non-winning tickets cannot be distinguished externally by perforation patterns or other visible traits.^[21] Gameplay begins with the purchase of an individual ticket from a banded pack or dispenser, priced commonly between $0.25 and $5 depending on the game series.^[20] The player then pulls open the perforated tabs sequentially or simultaneously to expose the hidden symbols beneath.^[19] Matching the revealed symbols to the predefined winning patterns on the ticket's front qualifies the player for an instant payout, with prizes ranging from small cash amounts to grand prizes fixed per deal, such as $500 or $1,000 in a typical series.^[20] Unlike scratch-off tickets, no tools are required, as the tabs are designed for easy manual opening without damaging the card.^[22] To prevent fraud, federal minimum internal control standards require that pull-tab inventory, including unused tickets, be controlled through secure storage and procedures that preclude unauthorized access and tampering, with purchased deals inventoried upon receipt.^[23] Deals must be randomly loaded into dispensers if used, ensuring no pre-selection of winners, and all tickets in a deal share a predetermined payout structure verified by the manufacturer.^[23]^[24] These controls apply particularly in tribal gaming contexts but influence broader charitable gaming practices.^[23]

Electronic Pull-Tab Systems

Electronic pull-tab systems operate on touchscreen hardware, typically portable tablet devices akin to iPads, deployed in Minnesota bars and licensed charitable gambling venues. These devices feature intuitive interfaces where players purchase virtual tickets and interact via touch gestures to reveal outcomes, mimicking the physical act of pulling tabs on paper variants through animated sequences of symbols, numbers, and prize notifications. Hardware components include durable, lightweight enclosures supporting prolonged use in bar environments, often integrated with point-of-sale systems for credit purchases and payouts.^[25]^[26] Software mechanics center on digital simulations of pull-tab games, generating results via certified random number generators (RNG) embedded in the system to ensure unpredictable and fair outcomes independent of player input timing. Each electronic pull-tab game undergoes testing by board-approved laboratories, verifying compliance with manufacturing standards for RNG integrity, ticket randomization, and device functionality before deployment. Additional software features may include progressive elements where jackpots accumulate across games, though verifiable RNG certification remains mandatory to prevent manipulation.^[27] Prior to January 1, 2025, many systems incorporated "open-all" swipe options, enabling rapid revelation of all tabs on a multi-row ticket in one motion to heighten engagement. Following legislative amendments effective that date, electronic pull-tab devices require players to manually activate each individual row, line, or column via distinct touches, enforcing a slower pace comparable to paper pulls and aimed at reducing excessive play speeds. This shift applies uniformly to approved hardware and software, with non-compliant systems prohibited from operation.^[28]^[29]

Legality and Regulation

State-Level Variations in the US

In Minnesota, pull-tab games are broadly permitted, with the state hosting the highest volume of legal play among U.S. jurisdictions, primarily through licensed charitable organizations in bars and fraternal halls under oversight by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board.^[30] Electronic pull-tabs (e-tabs) were previously widespread but faced restrictions via a 2023 law effective January 1, 2025, which banned features including "open-all" swipe options, bonuses, and free plays following a state appeals court ruling on permissible mechanics; this resulted in a 44% revenue decline for e-tab games in January 2025 relative to December 2024.^[31] ^[32] Alaska authorizes pull-tabs, colloquially termed "rippies" in bar settings, as the state's most prevalent charitable gaming activity, licensed at over 1,000 locations including taverns and regulated by the Department of Revenue's Charitable Gaming Unit, with sales prohibited to those under 21.^[33] ^[34] Wisconsin allows paper-based pull-tabs in taverns as a charitable exemption to otherwise stringent anti-gambling statutes, capping individual prizes at $250 and structuring games with fixed outcomes to evade broader prohibitions on chance-based wagering, though electronic variants face effective limits or outright exclusion under current Department of Revenue guidelines.^[35] ^[36] Indiana, where pull-tabs have historically been confined to manual formats for qualified nonprofits, saw 2025 legislative proposals for expansion, including House Bill 1433 authorizing electronic pull-tab devices and systems in Type II gaming sites with specified operational requirements, alongside Senate Bill 209 enabling their use in taverns and imposing a 20% excise tax on game distributions to distributors.^[37] ^[38]

Regulatory Frameworks and Charitable Requirements

Regulatory frameworks for pull-tab operations in authorizing U.S. states emphasize licensing exclusively for registered nonprofit organizations, ensuring proceeds support charitable purposes while incorporating controls to maintain game integrity and prevent fraud. State gaming boards, such as Minnesota's Gambling Control Board, mandate that pull-tab deals feature predefined prize payout structures, typically returning 70-85% of gross receipts to players as prizes, with the maximum not exceeding 85% of the ideal gross in Minnesota.^[39] The remaining portion, often around 15-30%, covers distributor fees, facility rents, and organizational expenses, from which nonprofits must allocate at least 50% of their net gambling receipts to verifiable charitable or community purposes as required under statutes like Minnesota's lawful gambling provisions. These distributions are verified through mandatory financial reporting, tying operations directly to nonprofit missions and prohibiting private profit.^[40] To safeguard against manipulation, regulations require rigorous inventory tracking from acquisition to disposition. Pull-tab tickets are distributed in serialized deals consisting of folded and banded units or multi-ply cards, with organizations obligated to document receipt, storage, and sales via control logs that reconcile total tickets against those sold, redeemed for prizes, and remaining unsold.^[41] Unused or "jar" tickets must be preserved intact for audits, preventing selective removal of winners or laundering through fictitious sales, a practice rooted in anti-fraud standards established in the 1970s when charitable gaming laws proliferated to balance revenue generation with oversight.^[42] Independent verification of sales and payouts is enforced, often by personnel unaffiliated with the selling location, ensuring transparency in high-volume bar settings.^[43] Audits and compliance reviews by state regulators further enforce these requirements, mandating organizations to implement written internal accounting controls, submit monthly sales reports, and undergo periodic examinations of records to confirm all tickets are accounted for and proceeds align with charitable mandates.^[44] Variations exist across states—such as Indiana's specifications for electronic pull-tabs under charitable gaming amendments—but core elements prioritize nonprofit eligibility, capped prize ratios to sustain charitable flows, and inventory protocols to mitigate risks like ticket alteration, reflecting a regulatory evolution from early permissive laws to structured systems prioritizing empirical accountability over unchecked expansion.^[45]^[46]

Economic Impact

Revenue Generation for Charities

Pull-tab gaming generates revenue for licensed nonprofit organizations primarily through net proceeds from ticket or credit sales, after deducting prize payouts—typically set at 76-84% of gross receipts for paper games—and state and local taxes.^[47]^[48] In Minnesota, the epicenter of pull-tab activity, these proceeds fund charitable missions including veterans' services, youth sports, emergency medical squads, and food shelves, with organizations required by law to allocate funds to community betterment purposes.^[49] Annual gross sales surpassed $4 billion in 2023, predominantly from pull-tabs which comprise over 95% of charitable gambling activity.^[10] Since their introduction in the 1970s as a fundraising mechanism and legalization in states like Minnesota in 1981, pull-tabs have cumulatively produced tens of billions in gross receipts nationwide, yielding billions in net proceeds for nonprofits when accounting for typical retention rates of 10-20% after deductions.^[50]^[10] For electronic variants, which generated $1.9 billion in gross revenue in 2022, usable charitable proceeds equate to approximately 3% of wagers after vendor shares and higher operational costs.^[51]^[52] Paper pull-tabs, dominant in earlier years with $5 billion in sales over the five years preceding 2018, generally afford higher retention for organizations due to simpler distribution in bars.^[53] Transparency is maintained through mandatory audits of all games by the Minnesota Gambling Control Board, requiring reconciliation of sales, prizes, and cash at game closure and monthly intervals, performed by individuals independent of sales to verify accurate proceeds allocation.^[54]^[55] These state-overseen processes, detailed in annual reports, ensure verifiable distribution without reliance on external subsidies, supporting sustained nonprofit operations.^[56]

Market Size and Industry Growth

The pull-tab industry, primarily concentrated in the United States as a form of charitable gaming, generates billions in annual gross ticket sales, with Minnesota and North Dakota accounting for a significant portion of the market. In Minnesota, fiscal year 2023 gross receipts from pull-tabs (both paper and electronic) reached approximately $4.6 billion, marking a 7.9% increase from the prior year and surpassing other forms of lawful gambling. North Dakota's charitable gaming sector, dominated by electronic pull-tabs, reported gross proceeds exceeding $2.4 billion in recent years, reflecting the scale of player wagers on these devices.^[57] These figures underscore U.S. dominance, as pull-tab formats tailored to charitable licensing lack widespread equivalents internationally, with state-specific operations driving nearly all documented volume.^[58] Growth has been propelled by the shift to electronic pull-tabs (e-tabs), which digitized traditional paper tickets into tablet-based systems resembling slots, enabling higher volume and player engagement prior to regulatory tightening. In North Dakota, e-tab wagers surged from $1.3 billion in fiscal 2021 to over $2 billion annually by 2024, comprising nearly 90% of charitable gaming proceeds.^[59]^[60] This expansion stems from voluntary player participation, where individuals opt into low-stakes games for potential payouts, fostering organic demand without coercive elements. The cash-intensive nature of bar-based sales has also highlighted operational scale, as evidenced by organized burglary rings targeting pull-tab proceeds in Minnesota, which stole over $200,000 across dozens of establishments in 2023-2024, indicating substantial on-site liquidity from daily ticket volumes.^[61]^[62] Projections for the broader charitable gaming segment, including pull-tabs, anticipate a compound annual growth rate of nearly 12% through 2030, fueled by device innovations and market consolidation, such as Light & Wonder's $1 billion acquisition of Grover Gaming's assets in 2025.^[63]^[64] However, state-level restrictions, like Minnesota's 2023 e-tab rules potentially curbing revenue by up to 60%, may temper pace in mature markets, though voluntary adoption continues to support resilience.^[65]

Role in Bar and Community Culture

Pull-tabs have formed a core element of bar culture in Midwestern states like Minnesota since their widespread adoption in the 1970s, where they are played collectively at tavern counters to facilitate casual conversations and group bonding among patrons.^[8] This tradition positions pull-tabs as more than mere games, embedding them in the social fabric of local drinking establishments as a shared activity that draws regulars together, often spanning generations within communities.^[66] In Minnesota, the game's prevalence underscores its cultural normalization, with players wagering nearly $1.97 billion on pull-tabs in 2019 alone, reflecting broad participation without indications of undermining social stability in the state.^[50] Similarly, in Alaska, pull-tabs—locally known as "rippies"—serve an analogous role in bars and informal gatherings, acting as a communal diversion that encourages interaction in remote and rural settings.^[67] Beyond bars, pull-tab proceeds routinely bolster community ties by supporting volunteer-led initiatives, such as youth sports leagues and fire departments, where the act of collective play reinforces local solidarity and civic engagement.^[68]^[69] In these contexts, the game's charitable orientation transforms individual participation into a mechanism for sustaining neighborhood institutions, highlighting its function as a socially integrative pastime rather than isolated entertainment.^[70]

Public Health and Addiction Considerations

Pull-tab gambling, akin to slot machines in its mechanics of rapid, intermittent rewards, has been associated with elevated risks of problem gambling due to the potential for quick successive plays that can exacerbate loss chasing and diminished awareness of time and expenditure. An observational study of pull-tab venues in Minnesota identified patterns of extended play sessions and high-volume purchases, mirroring slot machine behaviors linked to addictive cycles in susceptible individuals.^[71] Electronic pull-tabs, with their faster dispensing and visual/auditory stimuli, may intensify these dynamics compared to paper variants, though empirical data specific to electronic formats remains limited and primarily anecdotal.^[72] State-level data indicate that pull-tabs contribute modestly to reported problem gambling instances. In Minnesota, where pull-tab participation is highest nationally, they ranked as the third most common primary activity among helpline callers seeking assistance for gambling issues, accounting for 7% of cases as of 2017, behind casino slots (37%) and table games (20%).^[73] Broader surveys link charitable gambling forms like pull-tabs to moderate increases in gambling disorder symptoms, with pull-tabs showing associations with higher-risk categories in some U.S. samples.^[74] Nationally, severe problem gambling affects approximately 1% of U.S. adults, with another 2-3% experiencing milder issues, though rates among active gamblers exceed population averages, underscoring that vulnerability arises from individual predispositions rather than universal exposure.^[75] These risks must be contextualized by the voluntary and regulated nature of pull-tab play, where participants retain agency to set personal limits, cease participation, or utilize self-exclusion options available through state programs. Unlike unregulated or illegal betting, pull-tabs operate under oversight that enforces payout caps and game integrity, serving as a controlled outlet that channels expenditures toward charitable causes, potentially offsetting harms through community benefits while respecting adult autonomy in risk assessment. Empirical evidence supports that the majority of players engage without developing disorders, attributing adverse outcomes to failures in self-regulation rather than inherent product defects.^[76]

Controversies and Criticisms

Disputes with Tribal Gaming Interests

Minnesota's tribal-state gaming compacts, negotiated primarily in the late 1980s and early 1990s, grant tribes exclusive rights to operate slot machines on their lands while permitting charitable organizations to offer pull-tabs as a distinct form of gambling.^[77] Tribal interests have long contended that electronic pull-tabs (e-tabs), introduced in the 2010s, function similarly to slots due to their digital interface and rapid play, thereby eroding the compacts' intended exclusivity and diverting gambling revenue from tribal casinos.^[78] In 2020, a state administrative law judge ruled that e-tabs do not infringe on tribal slot monopolies, affirming their classification as electronic aids to traditional paper pull-tabs rather than prohibited devices.^[77] Tensions escalated with legal challenges targeting specific e-tab features. In February 2023, the Minnesota Court of Appeals held that the state Gambling Control Board had exceeded its authority by permitting an "open-all" function, which allows players to instantly reveal all tabs in a game, deeming it unauthorized under state gambling statutes and akin to unregulated slot play.^[79] This ruling, stemming from a petition likely influenced by tribal concerns over market competition, prompted the 2023 legislative session to enact restrictions prohibiting "open-all" and similar rapid-reveal mechanics, effective as a compromise to preserve e-tab operations while curtailing features tribes argued mimicked casino slots.^[80] By 2025, these limits had reduced e-tab play speed and appeal, spurring charitable groups to advocate for rollbacks amid declining device usage.^[81] Tribal advocates prioritize compact exclusivity to safeguard sovereignty-funded revenues, estimating that unregulated e-tabs siphon discretionary gambling dollars from casinos, which generated approximately $4.9 billion in total handle in 2024.^[82] Opponents, including bars and nonprofits, counter that such arbitrary feature bans—absent evidence of direct compact violation—impose undue harm on charitable funding, with e-tabs contributing over $1.9 billion in gross receipts in fiscal year 2022, yielding hundreds of millions in net proceeds for community organizations far below tribal scales but vital for local causes.^[83]^[84] These disputes underscore interstate tensions over gaming market share, with tribes leveraging compact language for protectionism while charitable sectors emphasize statutory distinctions and economic contributions to non-tribal entities.^[85]

Associated Criminal Activities

In May 2025, Minnesota authorities dismantled a racketeering operation involving eight suspects who burglarized or attempted to burglarize 44 bars and restaurants, stealing over $197,000 in charitable pull-tab proceeds intended for nonprofits.^[86] ^[87] The scheme, investigated since August 2023 by the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division, exploited the cash-heavy nature of pull-tab sales by targeting safes storing daily earnings, primarily in the Twin Cities metro area.^[88] Pull-tab dispensing machines, which facilitate on-site sales and accumulate bills from player payouts and purchases, have drawn targeted burglaries due to their visible cash holdings. In October 2025, the Minnesota Gambling Control Board alerted licensees to a rise in such thefts, advising against storing excess funds in machines beyond the internal cash box and urging frequent collections to reduce vulnerability.^[89] ^[90] These incidents underscore how the immediate cash liquidity of pull-tab operations—unlike electronic alternatives—attracts external theft, though state-mandated audits of sales records and fund allocations aid in detecting discrepancies post-burglary.^[91]

Recent Regulatory Shifts and Reforms

In Minnesota, electronic pull-tab devices underwent significant restrictions effective January 1, 2025, prohibiting "all-swipe" or "open-all" features that allowed players to reveal multiple tabs simultaneously, as well as bonus rounds and free play options, to align gameplay more closely with traditional paper pull-tabs following a 2023 state court ruling on device compliance.^[80]^[92] These changes, enacted via 2023 legislation, shifted devices from rapid one-touch play to sequential pulls, aiming to enhance game integrity and mitigate risks of compulsive gambling by slowing the pace.^[31] Charities, including veterans' organizations, reported immediate revenue declines, with one post estimating a 44% drop in January 2025 compared to January 2024, and broader projections of 20-40% losses annually, prompting Republican lawmakers to introduce bills in February 2025 to repeal the restrictions.^[82]^[93]^[81] Proponents of the Minnesota reforms, often aligned with regulatory perspectives emphasizing public health, argue the elimination of accelerated features reduces addiction potential by discouraging binge-style play, though empirical data on addiction rates pre- and post-reform remains limited as of mid-2025; critics, including charity operators and market-oriented stakeholders, contend the changes infringe on voluntary adult gaming choices and undermine charitable funding without proven causal links to reduced harm, citing first-month revenue shortfalls of up to 10% escalating to 25% projections as evidence of economic disruption over integrity gains.^[92]^[94]^[80] In contrast, Indiana pursued expansions in charitable gaming during its 2025 legislative session, with House Bill 1433 and Senate Bill 209 authorizing electronic pull-tab games, devices, and systems for Type II operations in fraternal and veterans' organizations, effective July 1, 2025, to modernize bingo alternatives and boost nonprofit revenues amid stagnant traditional pull-tab sales.^[37]^[95] Veterans' groups advocated for these measures to counter membership declines and increase fundraising efficiency, projecting higher yields from digital formats without the swipe restrictions seen in Minnesota.^[96] While Indiana's approach favors market-driven growth for charities, potential downsides include heightened addiction risks from accessible electronic play, though supporters dismiss such concerns as unsubstantiated given voluntary participation and revenue benefits outweighing unverified harms.^[96]

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[PDF] Charitable Gambling in Minnesota
The only types of gambling that may be conducted by nonprofit organizations are pull-tabs, bingo, paddlewheels, tipboards, and raffles. Nonprofits have also ...Missing: taverns Midwest
[40]
How to Conduct Charitable Gambling - Minnesota Council of ...
Minnesota law states that only nonprofits registered with the Secretary of State or IRS can conduct any charitable gambling efforts.<|separator|>
[41]
Common Terms and Items Used / Gambling Control Board - MN.gov
Paper pull-tab (or paper pull-tab ticket), A paper pull-tab is a single folded and banded ticket, grouping of folded and banded tickets, or multi-ply card ...
[42]
Minn. R. agency 177, ch. 7861, pt. 7861.0210 - DEFINITIONS
Minnesota Administrative Rules ... "Jar ticket" means a single pull-tab ticket that is folded and banded or is a grouping of folded and banded tickets.
[43]
7861.0320 - MN Rules Part
An organization must establish and implement a written system of internal accounting and administrative controls for its lawful gambling operations.
[44]
[PDF] Lawful Gambling Distributor Instructions
Reminders. Electronic Pull-tabs with No Activity During Month. You do not need to include electronic pull-tabs with no activity in the monthly sales file.
[45]
Indiana amends charity gaming laws focusing on pull tab and seal ...
Apr 2, 2025 · Indiana's Senate Bill 209, introduced on April 2, 2025, is set to reshape the landscape of charity gaming in the state by expanding the definition and ...Missing: proposals | Show results with:proposals
[46]
[PDF] Gambling Control Board - Office of the Legislative Auditor
The Department of. Revenue collects charitable gambling taxes and maintains the state's pull-tab, tipboard, and paddleticket inventory system. The Department of ...Missing: 1976 | Show results with:1976
[47]
Odd experience : r/minnesota - Reddit
Jul 23, 2023 · ... Minnesota. By law pull-tab 'deals' as each game is called, are limited to a top payout of 84% and most games in Minnesota are played at that ...
[48]
$$2 Pull-Tabs 78-79.9% Payout - NG Gaming Minnesota
$$2 Pull-Tabs 78-79.9% Payout. The price of each pull-tab game is at our LOW 2025 Minnesota discounted price of $0.0215/paper ticket.<|control11|><|separator|>
[49]
Rep. Anderson: Restore electronic pull tabs to help local charities
Feb 21, 2025 · Even at a 30-percent revenue decline, those relying on charitable proceeds in Minnesota – EMS groups, food shelves, youth sports teams and ...
[50]
What are pull tabs, the Midwest's favorite bar game? - ABC27
Jan 14, 2024 · The NAFTM explains that pull tabs have numerous aliases, including break open tickets, charity game cards, jar tickets, Nevada tickets, pickle ...
[51]
Charity groups speak out against Minnesota House's proposed ...
Apr 18, 2023 · – Electronic pull tabs rang up $1.9 billion in revenue last year and some of that money supports local causes like veterans organizations, ...Missing: 1970s | Show results with:1970s
[52]
Legislature plans restrictions on electronic pull-tabs - MPR News
May 22, 2023 · Electronic pull-tabs were legalized to pay the taxpayer's share of a new NFL stadium. After initially foundering, e-pull-tabs have become a $6.3 ...<|separator|>
[53]
Paper pull tabs drive charitable gaming up 8 percent
Mar 8, 2018 · The Star Tribune said Minnesota leads the nation in paper pull tab sales, reaching about $5 billion in the past five years, which may be why ...<|separator|>
[54]
Auditing a Paper Pull-tab Game / Gambling Control Board - MN.gov
All paper pull-tab games must be audited, and the audit must include a review of all prize receipts. The final audit of the game must be done by someone other ...Missing: transparency | Show results with:transparency
[55]
7861.0280 paper pull-tabs. - MN Revisor's Office
When closing or discontinuing a deal within a cumulative paper pull-tab game, the organization must immediately open or uncover the seal for that deal to ...
[56]
Auditors: You're in luck - Minnesota Society of CPAs
Aug 30, 2022 · A $4 billion industry! Minnesota generates more charitable gambling income than any other state, according to a recent Gambling Control Board ( ...
[57]
Port: North Dakota is not prepared for this gambling boom - InForum
Aug 27, 2025 · Mostly, this consisted of a few sleepy blackjack tables in the corner of the local bar, but the legalization of electronic pull tabs strapped a ...
[58]
Charitable Gaming: Definition, Regulation & Industry Overview
Jul 2, 2025 · Across many jurisdictions, charitable gaming has grown steadily over the past decade. In Minnesota, gross receipts from charitable games have ...
[59]
North Dakotans spend near double on electronic pull tabs | AP News
Dec 7, 2021 · North Dakotans poured more than $1.3 billion into electronic pull tab machines in fiscal 2021, nearly double the amount spent in the previous fiscal year.
[60]
The highs, lows, and dark side of North Dakota's $2B a year ...
Nov 29, 2024 · And the dark side of the $2B a year North Dakota industry is something legislators say they need to get a hold of. E-tab machines ring through ...
[61]
Crime ring targeted Minnesota businesses selling charitable pull ...
Apr 25, 2025 · Investigators say eight people are tied to more than three dozen burglaries across the Twin Cities, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars being stolen.
[62]
Eight Minnesotans charged with racketeering after 44 burglaries for ...
Apr 22, 2025 · Eight Minnesotans charged with racketeering after 44 burglaries for pulltab cash netting $200,000 · The pulltab prowlers left nothing to chance.
[63]
Upping the Ante: Light & Wonder Bets on Charitable Gaming Assets
Mar 13, 2025 · The segment is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 12% over 2023 – 2030, with online gaming companies engaging their ...
[64]
Light & Wonder to expand into US charitable gaming space with US ...
Feb 19, 2025 · The charitable gaming sector provides licenses to operators to run select gaming products such as bingo, lottery and E-Pull tabs for the purpose ...
[65]
New rule on Minnesota e-pull tabs could reduce revenue by 60 ...
Sep 21, 2023 · The Minnesota state Legislature handed down new restrictions on e-pull tabs which bans among other things “open all” or free play features.
[66]
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-spends-the-most-pulltabs-bar-culture/601152653/
[67]
Ripping open the world of pull-tabs, Alaska's most popular form of ...
Dec 6, 2023 · Pull-tabs themselves, also called “rippies,” are individual pieces of paper with perforated tabs that one rips to reveal symbols, and see if ...
[68]
Leech Lake Band changes gambling rules, pushing charities out of ...
Oct 14, 2024 · Nine nonprofits relying on pulltab revenue to fund everything from youth hockey to volunteer fire departments stand to lose tens of thousands of ...
[69]
Minnesota legislators push back on pull tab changes: 'Charities will ...
May 4, 2023 · And a portion of the proceeds goes to state tax coffers and to local charities like veterans' groups, volunteer fire departments, and youth ...Missing: funding | Show results with:funding
[70]
Charitable Gambling Ordinance | Minnetonka Matters
Provide up to 10 percent of their net gambling profits for lawful purposes that the city specifies. Meet in the city or have one-third of its membership within ...
[71]
"Minnesota slots": An observational study of pull tab gambling
A study of pull tab gambling in Minnesota was undertaken to describe the state's most popular form of gambling. The study also focused on the detection of ...Missing: expansion history 1970s 1980s
[72]
“Minnesota slots”: An observational study of pull tab gambling
The study also focused on the detection of any abuses or addictive problems that might be associated with it. Pull tab gambling is similar to slot machine ...Missing: risks | Show results with:risks
[73]
[PDF] Problem Gambling: A Report on the State's Progress in - MN.gov
• Top four primary problem gambling activity reported is casino slots (37%), casino cards-. (20%), pull-tabs (7%) and lottery (5%). • The majority of callers ...
[74]
The Association of Form of Gambling with Problem Gambling ... - NIH
Lottery and office pools/charitable gambling are associated with moderate but significant increases in gambling symptoms. Gambling machines (other than in a ...Missing: public | Show results with:public
[75]
FAQs: What is Problem Gambling?
2.5 million U.S. adults (1%) are estimated to meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem in a given year. Another 5-8 million (2-3%) would be considered to ...Missing: tabs | Show results with:tabs
[76]
Risk Factors for Gambling Disorder: A Systematic Review - PMC - NIH
Mar 8, 2023 · Pathological gamblers frequently gambled from an early age, suggesting that youth is a risk factor for problem gambling. Also, they are usually ...Missing: pull | Show results with:pull
[77]
Minnesota judge: Electronic pulltabs don't violate tribal gambling ...
May 21, 2020 · A state administrative law judge ruled that the pulltabs offered in bars by charitable organizations don't infringe on the exclusive rights of ...
[78]
Effort to rein in electronic pull tabs pits tribal casinos against bars ...
May 5, 2021 · Minnesota tribes, which control slot machine gambling, are pushing for closer regulation of so-called electronic pull tabs, which have exploded in popularity ...
[79]
Appeals court rules Minnesota Gambling Control Board improperly ...
Feb 27, 2023 · An appeals court on Monday ruled Minnesota gambling regulators did not follow state law when allowing “open-all” electronic pull-tabs that Indigenous tribes ...
[80]
Minnesota charities push effort to roll back e-pull tab restrictions
Feb 19, 2025 · A February 2023 ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals led to a law later that year to prohibit “open-all” electronic pull tabs.
[81]
Minnesota House bill would remove restrictions on electronic pull ...
Feb 19, 2025 · Minnesota House bill would remove restrictions on electronic pull tab games that charities say are slashing revenues - CBS Minnesota.Missing: 2024 | Show results with:2024<|separator|>
[82]
Minnesota Gambling Industry in 2025: Key Trends and Developments
Aug 29, 2025 · To start the new year, Minnesota rolled out changes to electronic pull-tab games. ... tab games for January 2025 dropped by 44% when compared to ...
[83]
Charitable Gaming Changes Planned For North Dakota, Minnesota
Sep 6, 2023 · North Dakota is studying e-tab locations and organizations, while Minnesota will ban "open all" options and bonuses on e-tabs starting in 2025.<|separator|>
[84]
Restore Electronic Pull Tabs to Help Local Charities - Patriot News MN
Feb 27, 2025 · As Minnesota charities brace for a massive decline in charitable gaming revenue this year due to changes made to electronic pull tabs.Missing: billions | Show results with:billions
[85]
The Minnesota Model - Tribal Government Gaming
The path to electronic pull-tabs' success sparked significant controversy. Minnesota's tribal nations have consistently opposed electronic pull-tabs ...Missing: disputes | Show results with:disputes
[86]
Eight people facing racketeering charges for stealing more than ...
May 5, 2025 · AGE agents began coordinating the investigation in August 2023 after seeing a pattern of burglaries that targeted pull tab charitable funds.
[87]
Pull-tab racketeering case foiled by Minnesota agencies sting - FOX 9
May 6, 2025 · Authorities say a massive collaboration is what led up to building a major racketeering case that involved a criminal ring targeting pull-tab charitable funds ...
[88]
8 people charged for allegedly stealing nearly $200K in pull tab funds
May 5, 2025 · Eight men are facing racketeering charges after they stole more than $197000 in pull tab proceeds which were intended for Minnesota charities ...<|separator|>
[89]
CRIME ALERT: Pull-tab Dispensing Machine Burglaries - MN.gov
Oct 8, 2025 · Do not store money in the dispensing machine other than what's in the machine's cash box. · Remove cash as frequently as possible. · Report ...
[90]
Minnesota regulator issues warning on pull-tab machine burglaries
Oct 9, 2025 · The Minnesota Gambling Control Board has issued a warning following a spate of burglaries targeting pull-tab dispensing machines.
[91]
Device Security - Case Studies / Gambling Control Board - MN.gov
If a paper pull-tab dispensing device is used, it is suggested that the cash be removed from the devices on a frequent basis.Missing: risks | Show results with:risks
[92]
Minnesota charities brace for losses when new e-pull tab rules take ...
Jul 3, 2023 · Starting in 2025, e-pull tabs will no longer be allowed to use “all-swipe” options and bonuses as part of the games. ... e-pull tab law change.Missing: January alterations
[93]
Charities face revenue drops of 20 to 40 percent due to e-pull tab ...
Mar 11, 2025 · Ms. Jenner clarified that her figures were based on direct feedback from individual charities, which reported varying levels of revenue loss.
[94]
Minnesota charities seek tax relief amid e pull tab revenue decline
Mar 11, 2025 · Initial estimates indicated a 10% revenue loss in the first month, with projections suggesting a potential 25% decline in overall charitable ...
[95]
Indiana Lawmakers Consider New Charitable Gaming Products
Jan 10, 2025 · If the General Assembly approves it, it will take effect on July 1, 2025. Senate bill wants to add electronic pull tabs. Senate Bill 209 (SB 209) ...
[96]
Veterans groups seek to “modernize” charitable gaming with e-tabs
Aug 5, 2024 · Veterans groups propose adding e-tabs for charitable gaming in the 2025 legislative session, seeking to increase revenue and membership.