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by: Gene Koprowski.
Ottertail Lions Club President Jerry Smith said his charity raised $2.5 million last year through charitable gaming. But, with taxes imposed by the state, what was left over to do good works in the community was just a little bit more than nothing.


Smith said the local community, through charitable gambling donations, received little more than 1 percent of the gross sales generated at Ottertail Lions gambling counters, which are located at The Otter, Amor Rumors and Shoreline in Battle Lake.
 
Smith, and other non-profit executives, think there has got to be a better way to raise money. They're considering asking the state to exempt them from taxes, or give them a tax break. Tony Chesak, interim director with the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association, said improved efforts to provide more gambling rights to those in the food-beverage and charitable gambling sectors are needed.

Legislation may not be the only route the gamers can take. A pending Minnesota lawsuit which has the intent of re-opening the Indian Gaming Compact signed in 1990 by then-Governor Rudy Perpich. The MLBA is supporting an effort by a special interest group to provide charitable organizations and liquor-vending establishments with more gambling privileges.
 
Chesak sought to gage the support of local business owners, asking that they consider signing their names in support of re-opening the Indian Gaming Compact or give money to help facilitate the legal process.
“What do you have to lose?” Chesak said. “You haven’t seen a light at the end of the tunnel as on-salers in 25 years.” From Chesak’s perspective, the state’s current gambling limitations have almost destroyed local businesses. “Pawlenty is very anti-expansion of gambling,” reported Chesak, of Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s stance on the issue. Chesak said that gambling is a very tough topic at the capital right now.



As Chesak presented it, the first step for area businesses and non-profits seeking to acquire certain gambling rights is to get a lawsuit, instigated by former South Dakota governor and U.S. Representative Bill Janklow, filed with the state. They then must get a ruling that the Indian Gaming Compact is completely unconstitutional.
 
According to the Minnesota House of Representatives, the annual volume of gambling at Minnesota's casinos was estimated in a September 2004 report from the Minnesota State Lottery as being "in excess of $10 billion."



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