Minnesota Vikings Stadium: Will Electronic Pull Tabs Be The Answer?

by Christopher Gates on Jan 20, 2012 10:30 PM CST in Minnesota Vikings Stadium

With the beginning of the 2012 Minnesota legislative session kicking off on Tuesday, and with Governor Dayton having given a press conference about the stadium situation that left us with more questions than answers, one might wonder whether or not the stadium issue is going to get resolved at all. However, it sounds as though the state might have found the best way to put together their share of the financing package with the implementation of the "electronic pull tab."

Pull tabs, at the present time, are little pieces of cardboard that you can purchase at bars and other establishments. They are sold for anywhere from twenty-five cents to two dollars, in most places, and the prizes can be as high as one thousand dollars. The current discussion is to expand those pull tabs to electronic devices such as iPads and things of that nature. This is something that, proponents say, could raise as much as $60 million for Minnesota.

As this article from the Star-Tribune points out, this would potentially be the easiest way to expand gambling in Minnesota, which is seen as one of the few options that raising money for a Vikings' stadium would take place. The reason that it's the easiest way is that the ultra-powerful Indian gaming lobby in Minnesota is not opposed to it the way they are to a potential Racino or any other potential form of gambling expansion.

This does seem to be the path of least resistance for the state to raise funds for a new Vikings' stadium. While it doesn't look like any plan will be in place at the start of the upcoming legislative session, hopefully something like this can get hammered out before the session ends. If it doesn't. . .

Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Or jump off of it. You know, whichever.

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The White Earth Tribal Nation

Is their proposal to build a casino and split the profits to help build the stadium in Arden Hills a dead issue?

"Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction." - Old Cowboy proverb.

by TexVike55 on Jan 20, 2012 10:42 PM CST reply actions

To be honest

I haven’t heard a darn thing about that proposal since I did the quick post on it during the stadium hearings a while back.

I guess it just made too much sense or something.

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by Christopher Gates on Jan 20, 2012 11:10 PM CST up reply actions

I think I remember reading something like

The White Earth tribe didn’t hold the “gambling rights” for Arden Hills, it “belongs” to some other tribe…

"You can write articles and do whatever you want, you can break down every player. Good, bad or ugly. But we just aren't good enough as a team, as a group. Offensively, defensively and special teams, from the No. 1 on the roster to the last man on the roster. We just aren't good enough. It's as simple as that." - Chad Greenway

by Grape Drank on Jan 20, 2012 11:19 PM CST up reply actions

I don't know the legality, but wouldn't it be cool...

…if they could buy some of that land from the Army, declare it part of their sovereign nation and put a casino on it?

Obviously, if it were legal it would have been done already— probably by every tribe around.

But its ok to dream a little, isn’t it?

by Lars in SLP on Jan 21, 2012 1:36 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

wouldnt that be

Epic if it would work tho, I mean quick fix that actually foes something over time…. Ahhhhh Braingasm

by Lunchpail on Jan 20, 2012 11:58 PM CST via mobile reply actions

White Earth's proposal is probably a non-starter.

It would be off reservation. Indian gaming lobby has likely buried it already.

Electronic pull tabs has been proposed for charitable organizations, who are already allowed to sell the paper tabs. Estimates project a strong increase in revenue (the state gets a cut) if the law is changed to allow the electronic version. This could fund all of the state’s contribution for the new facilities.

by Lars in SLP on Jan 21, 2012 1:21 AM CST via mobile reply actions

With $60mil a year to the state, they could afford to pick up the local share of the project.

If the legislature won’t override the Mpls referendum requirement and won’t approve Ramsey County’s food and beverage tax, this option provides way more than enough money to pay the freight.

by Lars in SLP on Jan 21, 2012 1:27 AM CST via mobile reply actions

but then

They have to do their jobs to tho

by Lunchpail on Jan 21, 2012 1:39 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Don't understand why this would be ok when some of the other gambling options I've heard about are not

Sounds like a good idea but doesn’t this make it even easier for people to develop, or enhance, a gambling problem?

This sounds as though I could just sit at home with my smartphone and waste a bunch of money…or am I missing something? If that’s the case than I would think this would have more opposition that a racino or scratch offs etc

by reebs on Jan 21, 2012 2:37 AM CST via mobile reply actions

It's presented as simply allowing an existing legal form of gambling to utilize new technology.

And it is for charitable organizations, so it appears to be more or less compassionate— somehow.

by Lars in SLP on Jan 21, 2012 9:43 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

But is one able to buy the pull tabs anywhere, like at home.

Or would you need to be in a bar and patch into their server or whatever to buy?

by reebs on Jan 21, 2012 11:48 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Around here (Iowa)

they are in most convenience marts.

Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points." --Knute Rockne

by abba7 on Jan 21, 2012 11:50 AM CST up reply actions

According to the article linked above...

You pay someone at the bar to load an iPad-like device. Payouts would likely be on-site. Just using new tech to attract the younger crowd. Let’s face it, paper pulltabs are dated.

by Lars in SLP on Jan 22, 2012 3:02 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

how do you get paid if you win

by Lunchpail on Jan 21, 2012 3:53 AM CST via mobile reply actions

I like it

This sounds like the easiest way to get it done… no fighting with the indian gaming, and it shouldnt take alot to get it off the ground… just make it happen

by Toes110 on Jan 21, 2012 9:51 AM CST reply actions

That solves the state's share.

So, that being settled, let’s hear some ideas for solving the local parker side of the equation that doesn’t involve a new tax, tax increase or voter referendum— and still provides stable revenue sufficient to pay the debt service for $300 million. Predictable and stable seems to be the toughest nut to crack, when you rule out racino, casino and new taxes.

So, are we DN junkies smarter and more creative than the politicos? Put your thinking horns on and let’s solve this thing!

by Lars in SLP on Jan 21, 2012 10:39 AM CST via mobile reply actions

*dang, missed on proof read... local PARTNER side...

by Lars in SLP on Jan 21, 2012 10:41 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Heck, Lars...

A retarded chimpanzee is smarter and more creative than the politicos, but, that’s just my opinion.

"Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction." - Old Cowboy proverb.

by TexVike55 on Jan 21, 2012 3:46 PM CST up reply actions

You betcha!

I was sort of hoping someone would run the numbers as to what could be done with $60 million a year from the e-tabs. Alas, all the chimps have moved on to other threads, so here it is in a nutshell.

If the state were to bond $650 million to cover everything but the Vikings contribution, at a rate of, say 4%, they would need $36 million a year for thirty years; or about $48 million a year for twenty years.

Either way, the increased e-tab revenue gives them enough to cover the entire public portion of the cost with enough left over to grease the skies enough to get the votes needed for passage.

The dilemma is, there is no local partner contribution— so the legislature has to pick a winner and alienate the loser.

by Lars in SLP on Jan 21, 2012 6:02 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

er, "grease the skids"

by Lars in SLP on Jan 21, 2012 6:03 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

My personal opinion/suggestion for etab revenues

Is like to see the state and Vikings do the Arden Hills deal, its shovel ready.

Minneapolis has the Vikings for 2-3 years in the dome, after which the dome is given to the city free of charge. They can redirect a small portion of their sales tax to fund continued operations. If they could redirect $300+ million for a new stadium and more for operations, then they can easily operate the dome cost effectively.

There you go— both entities get a stadium, no new or increased taxes, and the legislature has an extra twelve to twenty four million dollars to dole out to their favorite essential state services.

If only the political issues were as easy to resolve as the mathematics.

by Lars in SLP on Jan 21, 2012 6:30 PM CST via mobile reply actions