Lucrative electronic pull-tab games will continue to operate in Idaho -- after House lawmakers on Tuesday killed an effort seeking to ban the betting terminals.
Supporters of the repeal argued that electronic pull-tab machines, known as touch tabs, resembled too much like slot machines. The machines mimic the classic pull-tab lotto tickets -- but are paperless, and are played almost exclusively in bars and restaurants.
However, those concerns weren't enough to swing the entire House chamber. The measure failed on an 18-52 vote.
There more roughly 240 electronic pull-tab machines spread out among 140 locations in Idaho.
In 2011, when the machines were first installed, the Idaho Lottery saw roughly $2.9 million in sales. By 2016, sales had jumped to $31 million.
(by Associated Press)
