State senate OKs pull-tabs in bars

The state senate voted 26-21 Wednesday on a bill that will allow establishments with liquor licenses to offer pull-tabs and other low-stakes gambling games to their patrons. This vote comes on the heels of Indiana state legislatures voting to allow slot machines at horse tracks last year.\nTwo versions of the bill have been approved by the state senate. The differences between the two bills will be ironed out in a conference committee before the governor signs it into law, said Indiana State Senator Mike Delph, R-Carmel. Delph voted against the bill.\n“Indiana is addicted to gambling and needs to go into rehab,” Delph said.\nA pull-tab is a small gaming piece constructed of paper and imprinted with concealed numbers or symbols, according to the North American Gaming Regulators Association and the Whole World Lottery Guide. A player pulls the tab to reveal the number or symbol on the inside. A player wins if the number or symbol matches what is designated a winner by the manufacturer.\nAccording to the bill, HB 1153, retailers are required to maintain accurate records of all finances of the retailer’s gambling operation. Total payout for one type of gambling game may not exceed $5,000, and the payout percentage must be stated on the ticket.\nMoney allocated from pull-tabs by the state may be used for any lawful purpose.\nYogi’s Grill and Bar manager Chris Karl said he wouldn’t mind patrons coming into his bar to gamble. Depending on how the pull-tab legislation is structured, he would sell the gaming pieces from a vending machine in a section of his restaurant designated 21 and over.\nKarl said he would allow any kind of gambling in his restaurant if gaming is ever legalized by the state. He said the pull-tab bill is a step in that direction.\n“This will quickly turn into electronic pull-tabs,” he said. “And then perhaps video slots in the bar area.”\nDelph believes Indiana has started down a slippery slope.\n“Last year slot machines, this year pull-tabs, next year, who knows what?” Delph said. “Greed has no boundaries.”