Released today by the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels today signed HEA 1153 into law. With this, pull tabs, punch boards, tip boards, and daily drawings will be legalized in Indiana’s bars and taverns with restrictions. The Indiana Licensed Beverage Association has worked tirelessly on this issue for a number of years, and Wednesday, March 19, 2008 will go down as the date that all of that effort paid off.
Some administrative specifics will still need to be hammered out, but here are the highlights of the bill:
- Sales can begin on July 1st, 2008
- Sales restricted to bar areas where minors are not allowed
- Anyone planning to sell these games will need to first apply for a $250 retailer endorsement to go on their liquor license
- Licensing will be administered by the Alcohol & Tobacco Commission
- Games must be purchased from a licensed distributor
- All excise taxes will be collected by the distributor at the time of purchase
- Daily drawings must be a 100% payout with a to-be-determined cap on the amount of winnings (probably $300)
According to Indiana Licensed Beverage Association executive director Brad Klopfenstein, “We couldn’t be more thrilled about the passage of HEA 1153. We’d like to thank the Governor and the Legislature for supporting Indiana’s small businesses with this measure. This legislation will help to create and retain jobs in every one of Indiana’s 92 counties.”
Once more information is known about the implementation process, the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association will publish that information in its bi-monthly newsletter and will hold informational seminars around the state for its members.
The Indiana Licensed Beverage Association would also like to thank all of its members who helped in this process by being involved and contacting their representatives. Without them, this never would have happened.
Also, special thanks should go to the bill’s author’s and sponsors:
Rep. Dennis Tyler (D-Muncie) Author
Rep. Matt Bell (R-Avilla)
Rep. Tom Dermody (R-LaPorte)
Rep. Phil GiaQuinta (D-Ft. Wayne)
Sen. Robert Meeks (R-LaGrange) First Senate Sponsor
Sen. James Arnold (D-LaPorte)
Sen. Robert Deig (D-Mt. Vernon)
Sen. Lindel Hume (D-Princeton)
Sen. Sue Errington (D-Muncie)
