02/10/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19cBoBsmQP/
Absolutely agree—charitable pull-tabs are a lifeline for many Alaska nonprofits, from senior centers to youth sports. The reality is that the cost of paper pull-tabs has gone up sharply in just the last few years, while the price to players has stayed at $1. That squeeze hits nonprofits directly.
SB 170 gives nonprofits an option, not a replacement. Electronic pull-tabs help offset rising paper costs so organizations can continue offering the paper games people love—without losing fundraising power. Nothing in this bill eliminates paper pull-tabs.
As distributors, we’ve absorbed a large share of recent cost increases to help nonprofits stay afloat long enough to reach this point. But without relief, paper pull-tabs will eventually cost too much for nonprofits to benefit at all. We’ve all seen how fast material prices can change—just look at what’s happened to silver prices in a matter of months.
This bill keeps charitable gaming viable, protects the social nature of pull-tabs, and reduces pressure on state funding by allowing voluntary charitable giving to continue. If you support Alaska nonprofits, please consider reaching out to the Senate Finance Committee in support of SB 170.
Pull-tab sales provide a significant source of revenue for many Alaskan non-profits and charities, such as senior centers and youth sports. Recently the cost of paper pull-tabs, or “rippies,” has risen sharply, eating up a big part of the profits. I sponsored Senate Bill 170 to allow Alaskans to play electronic pull-tabs using a tablet at an authorized site because e-tabs are less costly than paper. Restrictions in the bill would ensure pull-tabs stay a fun and social activity, avoiding the pitfalls of full-blown casino gambling. SB 170 passed out of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee and will be heard next in Senate Finance.