News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Bill Simplifies Charitable Gaming Law

Saves State, Businesses and Charities Time and Money

For Immediate Release: February 2, 1998 Contact: Tom Williams, Assistant to Senator Bert Sharp, at 465-6593.

Juneau – The Senate Monday introduced legislation to simplify and strengthen the State’s charitable gaming laws. Senate Bill 273, sponsored by the Senate Finance Committee, ensures that out of every dollar wagered, a certain portion will ultimately be dedicated to charitable purposes.

Senator Bert Sharp, Co-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said SB 273 will change the way charities and gaming business’s report information to the Department of Revenue. Rather than base Department audits on NET gaming proceeds, the new law will base audits and reporting on GROSS gaming proceeds.

"Basing charitable gaming activities on gross gaming receipts will simplify and greatly reduce the cost of processing gaming reports," said Sharp. "This new approach will give the Department of Revenue more time to enforce charitable gaming law and a productive, positive method for dealing with State budget reductions."

Sharp explained that SB 273 streamlines the auditing process by making the amounts that charities receive a percentage of gaming revenue. Under this legislation, 1.5 percent of gross bingo receipts, 7 percent of pull tab receipts and 10 percent of all other gross receipts go to qualified organizations. "This makes the system easy to understand and easy to administer," Sharp said. "It also significantly cuts the amount of paperwork required and reduces the auditing required by the State agency."

The Department of Revenue strongly supports this legislation.

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