District 27A Rep. Robin Brown introduced legislation last week to legalize video pull-tabs for charitable gambling organizations such as the American Legion.

The bill proposes to amend a state statute already in place and to allow service organizations to own or lease up to five electronically simulated games in their facilities.

Brown said since Diamond Jo Casino opened in Northwood, Iowa, many service clubs have been struggling with revenue. The bill would give clubs the ability to compete.

She said it’s an issue she’s been hearing from constituents for at least a year, specifically from members of the American Legion Leo Carey Post 56 and other service clubs in Albert Lea.

“If we were to get the video gambling, it would allow us to raise money to let us do things we used to do for the charitable organizations in our county — things that we can’t do now because we don’t have any funds,” said American Legion Leo Carey Post 56 Commander Dave Mullenbach.

One of the only projects the local service organization has been able to support is American Legion baseball, but even that has sometimes been a struggle for which to raise money, Mullenbach said.

The commander said though Diamond Jo Casino has supported the American Legion to a degree — in that the gaming license holder, nonprofit Worth County Development Authority, has awarded some grants — it’s not at the capacity that the Legion used to support its club and community.

Mullenbach said the gambling at the organization went down to about half when Diamond Jo opened. It has slowly started to come back up.

Kyle Olson, gaming manager for Leo Carey Post 56, said despite the slow increase, gross receipts are still down at least 25 percent of where they were at before Diamond Jo opened.

Olson said he thinks if something like Brown’s bill were to go into effect, “I would think that would be a pretty good deal.”

He’s also in favor of a video bingo, he said.

A companion bill is expected to be introduced by District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks, Brown said.

Brown was one of three authors to also introduce a bill Monday that would establish video lottery terminals with revenue dedicated for education funding.