North Dakota lawmakers are steering toward a study of the state’s charitable gambling issues, including the proliferation and siting of electronic pull tab machines.
The 2017 Legislature approved the glitzy devices, which appeared in 2018. They quickly became a common sight in bars. Gov. Doug Burgum has called them “functionally slot machines.”
Recently a loose interpretation of an “alcoholic beverage establishment” has led to the machines appearing in a handful of places such as gas stations and convenience stores. Cities and counties authorize gambling in their jurisdictions, including the machines and where they go.
The state’s top gambling regulator is awaiting clarification on e-tabs so her office can regulate their activity correctly.
