The Alaska Charitable Gaming Alliance
is here to protect charitable giving.
Prevent the expansion of gambling in Alaska.
Tell the Governor and Lawmakers today!
As written, SB 188 could open the flood-gates to myriad gambling expansion raging from Internet gaming and sports betting to video terminal Keno and slot machine-type devices scattered throughout the state. A video lottery terminal (VLT) is the most popular electronic gaming format, but it has its disadvantages and complications beyond taking away from charitable gaming benefactors. Bill Owens’ December 20, 2019 identifies problems with VLTs in Missouri.
The Alaska Charitable Gaming Alliance (ACGA) urges all Alaskans to contact Governor Dunleavy, Lt. Governor Meyer, and their respective state representative and state senator to convey support for charitable gaming.
ACGA is resolute in protecting charitable gaming on behalf of Alaska’s beloved non-profit benefactors across the state.
Revenue is integral to any non-profit organization.
There are myriad non-profit organizations in Alaska. Many affiliate with charitable gaming activities to generate and maintain a stream of revenue from which they operate and provide services.
2020 will see numerous charitable gaming permittees applying for and renewing their gaming licenses to maintain revenue.
Here’s the list from the State of Alaska Department of Revenue Tax Division:
http://tax.alaska.gov/programs/programs/Reports/Annual/GamingLicenses.aspx
Revenue is integral to any non-profit organization, as are other aspects of the operation. For these reasons, the notion of opening a casino in Alaska runs opposite to the intent of the state’s charitable gaming laws at the same time the actual revenue generation would be undermined.
Non-Profit Organization Struggles
Limited Resources / It’s Tough to Fundraise
For some Alaskan non-profit organizations, revenue from charitable gaming is such a sizable percentage of their budget that a loss or discontinuation of such would devastate their mission and efforts. Donor competition and limitation, economic cycles, location, limited staff, and target-recipients can affect organizations dependent on gaming proceeds. All charitable services, associations and trade advocacies are competing for donations. Whether a pure charity or trade association, Veteran group or trade advocacy, across Southcentral Alaska in particular, charitable gaming revenue is a lifeline to delivery of their mission.
Suicide Prevalence in
Casino Communities
Here are some disturbing gambling statistics in conjunction with casinos and slot machines:
- Gambling addiction has been shown to have the same pharmacological effects as opiates.
- Casinos are designed to disorient and confuse patrons, from the lighting and carpeting to the key of machine sounds.
Americans lost $116.9 billion in gambling in 2016.
The Big Think / Derek Beres / March 15, 2019
%
85 percent of all gambling revenue comes from slot machines.
%
20% of gamblers attempt suicide — why don't we take the addiction more seriously?
Crime / Indian Gaming
Per the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI):
“There are 573 federally recognized Indian tribes in the United States and approximately 326 Indian reservations with over one million Native American residents on or near reservation lands. The FBI shares federal law enforcement responsibility with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS) on more than 200 of those Indian reservations not in PL‑280 areas, and has federal criminal jurisdiction over acts directly related to Indian gaming regardless of jurisdiction status.”
Deductions / Taxes
Tax deduction amounts for charitable donations are a continuously fluctuation cycle and percentage which complicates financial support. Alaska has its own set of rules, in concert with federal regulations, ultimately requiring recipient organizations to be consistently aware of the rules. Charitable gaming alleviates this pressure and affords non-profit organizations the channel through which to generate revenue in a regulated, transparent means (charitable gaming activities) and with assiduous accounting methods that ensure charities, winners, and the State of Alaska benefit, as well as the recipients of the non-profit organizations who rely on products and services.
What are the top factors that affect non-profit success and execution of goals?
The Forbes Nonprofit Council identified the factors in February 15, 2019 article:
- Tax Code, Stock Market, Effective Altruism
- Global Economy, Hiring, Firings
- Politics, Tax Reform, Election Chatter
- Millennials, Economy, Technology
- New Revenue, ROI, Measurable Results
- Mobile Giving, Taxes, Social Impact Funding
- Social Media, AI, Online Giving
- Economic Stability, Political Stability, Taxes
