In Minnesota, electronic pulltab games are making a slow, surprising comeback. In 2012, legislators approved the games and expected them to generate 0 million a month, to help pay the state’s share of the new Vikings stadium. Projections estimated 15,000 games in 2,500 bars. But bar owners determined e-pulltabs were not worth the expense and trouble to install. Gamblers said the electronic games were not fun to play and stuck with traditional paper pulltabs. The games are available in less than 200 bars and corporate taxes will continue to cover stadium expenses, at least for now.
But starting the summer, e-pulltabs are enjoying renewed attention in venues across Minnesota. In fact average daily revenue for the machines was up nearly 50 percent through October 31. Jon Weaver, founder and chief executive officer at Pilot Games, which runs 60 percent of wagering games in Minnesota, said, “From August 2014 until today, we’ve seen 100 percent increase, from $1 million in sales to $2.1 million in sales projected for November.”
Weaver said two years ago, the games were projected to generate $225 in bets a day but the best games took in less than $60 a day through this summer. However, in August, Pilot’s new games took in an average of $240, according to the Minnesota Gambling Control Board.
Weaver believes the upsurge is due to better technology and a continuous release of new and interesting games. Also, the games are being sold through existing distributors, rather than through a new supplier. The result is that increasing sales are gaining attention and the momentum is helping to spread e-pulltab games to new venues.
