INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The House gave a final legislative nod Tuesday to a bill that would allow taverns to offer pull tabs and other low-stakes gambling.

The House voted 53-42 to accept changes the Senate made to the bill, which is now headed to Gov. Mitch Daniels for his consideration. He has not said whether he would sign or veto the legislation, only that he would take a look at it if it reached his desk.

Proponents of the bill said it would help bar and tavern owners retain jobs and stay in business, while opponents said it was another sign that Indiana was addicted to gambling. “This is not a behemoth of gaming,” said Rep. Matt Bell, R-Avilla. “We are talking about very low-stakes activity that very well may spur business for small business people.”

Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski of Lakeville said it was simply another expansion of gambling.

“I’m convinced next year we’re going to be selling pull tabs to kindergarten classes,” she said.

Tavern owners have argued that they should be able to offer the games, which already are allowed at fraternal organizations or clubs.

Those organizations have long offered pull tabs under a bingo license, and the General Assembly created a specific license for them last year. Bill supporters have argued that bar and tavern owners deserve equal treatment.

Pull tabs, which could cost no more than $1 each under the bill, are paper games that pay off when symbols underneath tab windows on the back sides of cards match winning combinations shown on the front sides. Other games such as punchboards and tipboards, which also pay out prizes, also would be allowed.

Pull tabs in taverns would have to pay out at least 75 percent in prizes.

The Senate approved a modified version of the bill on a 26-21 vote last week. It takes a minimum of 26 votes to pass bills in the Senate.

The bill’s author, Democratic Rep. Dennis Tyler of Muncie, said last week that he had some concerns about some Senate changes and would probably seek to have the measure sent to a House-Senate conference committee where compromises would be sought.

Under the original bill, any establishment with a liquor license could offer pull tabs. But the Senate version limits the games to taverns — defined as places that primarily serve alcohol rather than food.

Tyler said last week that he wanted the bill to apply to more establishments to retain more jobs. But on Tuesday he filed a motion asking the House to accept the Senate changes and send the bill to Daniels.

“They look like they’re pretty fair, reasonable changes,” Tyler said.

“I think it’s important to try and move this.”

Besides fees for obtaining licenses to offer the games, excise taxes on the ticket sales also would be collected. Lawmakers estimated that the bill as originally passed by the House would generate between $5 million to $25 million in annual tax revenue.

Tyler said Tuesday that the current version of the bill could generate more than $2 million in yearly tax revenue.

Posted 3/5/2008