05/07/2025 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

              SB 170-GAMING; ELECTRONIC PULL-TABS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:44:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN announced  the consideration  of SENATE  BILL NO.                                                               
170 "An  Act relating to  gaming; relating to bingo;  relating to                                                               
pull-tabs and  electronic pull-tab systems; and  providing for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:45:28 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN  stated that SB  170 aims to  modernize charitable                                                               
gaming laws to increase revenue  for charities and nonprofits. SB
  also seeks  to preserve  the social  and cultural  nature of                                                               
charitable  gaming,  keeping   it  fun,  community-oriented,  and                                                               
distinct from gambling.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:46:20 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 170.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:46:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHRISTA  FOLI, Department  Commander,  American Veterans  (AMVET)                                                               
Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, testified with  concerns on SB 170 and                                                               
expressed  concern  that the  bill  favors  operators over  small                                                               
veteran service  organizations (VSOs),  which rely  on volunteers                                                               
to   raise  funds   for  charities.   She   urged  giving   these                                                               
organizations  more  flexibility   in  choosing  gaming  methods,                                                               
noting that  current limitations  on access and  devices restrict                                                               
their fundraising potential, and  request that regulatory details                                                               
be  determined  later  rather  than  burdening  small  nonprofits                                                               
upfront.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:49:54 PM                                                                                                                    
MICHELLE SAS,  Member, American Legion  Veterans of  Foreign Wars                                                               
(ALVFW), Anchorage,  Alaska, testified  with concerns on  SB 170.                                                               
She  stated  that  she  supports  modernizing  charitable  gaming                                                               
through SB 170 but warns  that its current structure overreaches,                                                               
placing burdens  on small  nonprofits and  veteran organizations.                                                               
She  advocated for  more flexibility  in  gaming devices,  higher                                                               
payroll limits,  and consideration of models  beyond Wisconsin's,                                                               
emphasizing the  need to protect small  organizations while still                                                               
modernizing the system.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:52:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHARLES  BORING, Member,  American  Veterans (AMVET),  Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska, testified with  concerns on SB 170. He  stated his belief                                                               
that the  bill focuses too  much on operators and  imposes strict                                                               
limits on  small nonprofit and veteran  organizations, which rely                                                               
heavily on  gaming and pull  tabs for survival. He  advocated for                                                               
greater  flexibility  in funding  limits  and  device choices  to                                                               
ensure these organizations can  continue operating and maximizing                                                               
their fundraising.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:55:14 PM                                                                                                                    
KAYLA  HANSON,  Gaming  Manager, Soldotna  Chamber  of  Commerce,                                                               
Soldotna, Alaska, testified in support  of SB 170. She emphasized                                                               
that small committee run organizations,  especially in areas with                                                               
internet  challenges, should  be  allowed to  choose the  devices                                                               
that work best for them. She  urged legislators to ensure a level                                                               
playing field between small groups and larger operators.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:56:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CODY OATMAN, Business Representative,  Alaska District Council of                                                               
Labors, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified  in support  of SB  170. He                                                               
said the  labor organization represents about  5,000 Alaskans. It                                                               
supports electronic pull tabs to  modernize charitable gaming and                                                               
increase  revenue for  scholarships and  community charities.  He                                                               
noted  that  tablets  are   affordable,  social,  and  efficient,                                                               
offering  lower   maintenance  costs  and  greater   benefits  to                                                               
nonprofits compared to pull tab cabinets.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:58:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN kept public testimony open.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:59:02 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN  explained  that  SB  170  prohibits  cabinet  or                                                               
tabletop  gaming  devices  to   prevent  charitable  gaming  from                                                               
resembling   casino   gambling   and  maintaining   its   social,                                                               
community-based  nature. He  added that  the proposed  limits are                                                               
designed  to  allow  more nonprofits  to  participate  and  raise                                                               
funds,   rather   than   concentrating  revenue   among   a   few                                                               
organizations.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
[CHAIR BJORKMAN held SB 170 in committee.]