The Minnesota Gambling Control Board improperly allowed an “open-all” feature on electronic pulltabs, the state Court of Appeals ruled Monday, siding with the state’s American Indian tribes.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community brought the matter to the appeals court after initially challenging the open-all function in 2019, arguing it mimics slot machines, which the state’s tribes are allowed to operate exclusively. With that function, a user hits one button, cascading rows open to animated characters and players can win bonus rounds.

Monday’s ruling reversed an administrative law judge’s decision that found the open-all provision was legal. The decision could renew a legislative push to clarify the law, explicitly banning the open-all feature. DFL control of state government makes the prospect of such a ban more likely than in recent years under divided control.