Pull Tab Machines Under The Spotlight In North Dakota

The presence of e-pull tab machines in the Flickertail State has exponentially grown in recent years, with 4,100 units going live since their legalization in August 2018. However, lawmakers are looking to control the proliferation of these slot-style gaming machines, by refining legislation on where e-pull tabs are permitted. Originally, as is this the current case, these machines were earmarked for bars only, however, some loose wording has seemingly opened up a loophole. Now, gas stations and a host of retail stores have pull tabs on their premises, interpreting the law’s current language to suit their requirements.

The state has now waded in. Attorney General Drew Wrigley, and chief regulator Deb McDaniel have now moved to address the clarity of the legislation, and will bid to strictly restrict these gaming units to bars, or hospitality buildings which have physical bars within them. Although McDaniel anticipates some substantial challenges from gaming firms who operate these machines, she remains steadfast in her conviction that a legal change will occur. She states, ‘’I still believe we’re going to see this in the next legislative session. It will be up to the legislative body to decide if we want these in gas stations or not’.

It’s been suggested that the astronomical amounts being poured into these machines is detracting from the revenues of tribal casinos. Last fiscal year, from June 2020 to June 2021, North Dakotan players wagered through $1.3bn on pull tabs, more than double the previous year. It’s projected that the current fiscal cycle will return $1.8bn. Although tribal entities are not obliged to release revenue figures, its estimated that pull tab units are undermining GGR totals in Native American casinos by a colossal 60%.

This scale of activity has unsurprisingly heightened fears around problem gambling in the state, with the local legislature now insisting that pull tab operators commit $40k per annum to gambling treatment programmes.