What is Gaming? What Isn’t, and What are Fundraising Options?
The Gaming Regulatory Authority (GRA) always gets questions about what types of promotions, raffles, contests, and games are officially considered “Gaming,” more commonly known as gambling, under the law. Only the casinos and Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures can conduct Gaming on the Reservation and only the GRA can oversee that Gaming. But that doesn’t mean groups and people can’t still run other types of games and promotions.
First, let’s get our definitions straight. To be Gaming (gambling), you need three things: 1) Something of value must be wagered (a bet), 2) That something must be wagered on the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event, not under his or her control or influence (a chance), and 3) In exchange for something of value (a prize).
Gaming requires a bet, on a chance of something happening, for a prize. That’s it. Remove any one of the three requirements and you are not Gaming (gambling) and it’s perfectly legal. For example, if you have a bingo game but nobody is wagering something of value, if everybody gets to play for free, it’s not Gaming. Or imagine everybody gets entered into a lottery and they don’t even have to buy anything or put any money up. That’s also not Gaming.
There are plenty of games and other fundraising options you or your group can utilize that are not Gaming including, but not limited to:
• Door prizes, entering somebody into a contest to win something just for showing up.
• Silent or live auctions.
• Some games that are based on skill where the contestants win prizes (shooting, racing, basketball). Note: only the contestants themselves can win valuable prizes. If you’re betting and winning on the sidelines, it’s gambling.
• Sales: Indian tacos, tee shirts, baked goods, etc.
• Asking for donations.
• Free bingo.
• Free lotteries.
• Raffles or bingo that take place off Reservation lands; for example at a local American Legion or school.
• GoFundMe or GiftSendGo.
• Sponsored walks/runs.
Also remember that in certain limited instances, charitable organizations can do some types of “Gaming” (gambling) legally on the Reservation, but they need to be official Indian Charitable Organizations registered through the GRA.
For more information on Charitable Gaming, please contact the GRA at 320-384-4807.
The Mille Lacs Band Gaming Regulatory Authority (GRA) is an independent regulatory agency of tribal government established to separate the government’s regulatory function from the management function of the Gaming Enterprises. More information and contact numbers can be found at http://www.millelacsband.com/government/gaming-regulatory-authority. You can also LIKE us on Facebook at Mille Lacs Band GRA. GRA Board meetings are open to the public. Due to COVID-19, meetings are currently being conducted remotely using Zoom.
