DOVER, Del. (AP/WSCL) - The state Senate has approved a bill allowing veterans groups and fraternal organizations to operate slot machines.
The Senate voted 15-to-2 for the bill Tuesday after adding an amendment expanding the authorized gambling to include local fraternal societies not affiliated with national groups like the Elks or Moose.
Senator Brian Bushwell noted that the legislative clock is running, "The current legislation that allows them to do this kind of stuff expires on June 30th. We have to get the bill done in the House. And then we have to get the Governor's signature."
The Markell administration and lawmakers have been looking to pacify veterans groups and fraternal organizations since they were told late last year to stop their illegal slots operations.
Jeff Crouser with Dover's Walter L. Fox American Legion Post said, "I think it will keep out some of the fly by nights or the proliferation of additional machines, which is one of the big fears.
The Markell administration and lawmakers have been looking to pacify veterans groups and fraternal organizations since they were told late last year to stop their illegal slots operations.
The bill makes permanent existing interim measures that allow the organizations to offer slots gambling, with the state keeping 40 percent of the proceeds after players are paid. The organizations would be required to use at least 40 percent of their winnings for charitable purposes.
Bushweller added that, this is "a "no brainer". The Democrat noted that the legislation helps "these charitable organizations, especially veterans organizations, do good things for our community. They run an awful lot of charitable activities, such as scholarships for kids going to college, sponsoring cub scout troops and girl scout troops and all these kinds of activities that are so important to our communities.
