Alaska
Major events in Alaska gaming history
1960 |
The legislature legalizes gaming and gives oversight for all gaming activities to the Department of Revenue |
1984 |
Pulltabs are authorized by the Department |
1988 |
Pulltabs are legalized by statute and prize limits are increased |
1995 |
Cruise ship gambling activities in Alaska waters are legalized for the 1995 season; the law expired after 1995 The legislature eliminates Monte Carlo nights |
1996 |
The legislature authorizes three new gaming activities: Sled Dog Race Classic, Deep Freeze Classic and Snow Machine Classic |
2005 |
Two new games of chance are authorized: Calcutta pools (related to amateur and professional sporting events) and a crane classic (the best guess of the time of arrival of the first Sandhill Crane to a particular place) |
2006 |
Voters approve a Large Passenger Vessel Gambling Tax; the first taxes were collected in fiscal 2008 at a rate of 33 percent of adjusted gross gaming revenue |
2008 |
The legislature recognizes the cabbage classic at the Giant Cabbage Weigh-off at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer as an authorized gaming activity |
Tribal gaming
Two tribes in Alaska currently run bingo halls:
Klawock Cooperative Association – Klawock Bingo
Metlakatla Indian Community – Metlakatla Bingo Hall
Charitable gaming
Gaming permits may be issued to municipalities and qualified organizations; the authority to conduct gaming activity is contingent upon the dedication of the net proceeds of the gaming activity for specific purposes. Games allowed are bingo, raffles and lotteries, pulltab games, ice classics, rain classics, mushing sweepstakes, fish derbies and contests of skill within the state.
There are 15 types of qualified organizations eligible to game in Alaska: charitable organization, civic or service organization, dog mushers' association, educational organization, fishing derby association, fraternal organization, labor organization, municipality, nonprofit trade association, outboard motor association, police or fire department, political organization, religious organization, veterans organization and IRA/Native village.
Alaska Department of Revenue, Tax Division
333 W. Willoughby Ave 11 Fl Side B
PO Box 110420
Juneau, AK 99811-0420
Phone (907) 465-2320
Last updated on February 16, 2013