Electronic pull-tabs approved for Minn. bars - KXLT - Fox 47 Rochester MN News, Weather and Sports

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (FOX 47) -- The first electronic pull-tab games were set to go live Tuesday to help pay for a new Vikings stadium.

The state Gambling Control Board approved five iPad games made by Las Vegas-based Acres 4.0 at a packed meeting in Roseville.

Earlier this year, the state Legislature approved the expansion of the pull-tabs. State Lawmakers are relying on the taxes from the new pull-tab system to repay the state's portion of the $975 million it is going to cost to build the Vikings Stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

"The Legislature really started looking at the issue when the Vikings bill comes about, but it also helps so many other charitable causes," said Tom Barrett, Director of the Minnesota Gambling Control Board.

The electronic pull-tabs are making their debut in a handful of bars Tuesday night. But soon up to 300 venues a month may be getting the tablets.

"It's a finite number of chances like you have on a pull-tab paper game, but it does afford the player a little more animation in comparison to the paper games," said Barrett. "That's what some of the interest of the charity was looking for."

New games from Las Vegas-based Acres 4.0 include "Big Money Heist and "Treasures of the Jungle."

Lawmakers hope this new technology will double the yearly gambling profit.

For security reasons each of the tablets will have trackers built in.