It’s an extra source of income which some bars and pubs have been cashing in on illegally for years.
But as of yesterday pull tabs can be sold legally at your local tavern.
About 450 bars and taverns in Indiana have received or are in line to receive licenses to participate in low stakes paper based gambling.
Pull tab machines have made illegal appearances in bars for years, but have been legally licensed at private clubs.
Those who now sell pull tabs, and those getting ready to sell them say its gambling money that will be well spent.
“It’s done wonders. We make probably anywhere between 19 and 23 percent of our income,” Denise Szuch, one of the Vice Presidents at the Chain O Lakes Conservation Club tells us.
Leroy Greene, CEO of Tom and Jerry’s Pub Inc., and President for the 3rd District Tavern association plans to start selling pull tabs at his bar, The Pirate’s Cove.
He’s anticipating his license in the mail, and the cash that pull tabs will add to his bottom line.
“Probably an average of 15 hundred to two thousand a week. That goes to pay the electric bill helps to pay the gas bill for my kitchen and anything general maintenance,” Greene says.
In addition to the two hundred and fifty dollar charge per license, the state will collect ten percent of how much bars spend on the tickets.