Montana should bet on blackjack

In 1981, North Dakota’s gambling industry experienced a sudden boom. The state began raking in gambling tax revenue, which was pledged to charities and non-profit organizations. And while the gamblers would of course get to keep their winnings, groups across the state and local communities benefited from the sudden increase in revenue.

Montana is now in a position to pass similar legislation and bring in needed revenue to our state at a time when we are in desperate need of a boost. House Bill 578 gives establishments the option of adding up to three tables for live blackjack. Revenue for the next two years will be directed to Montana’s general fund to fill gaps, and then proceeds will go to various education, health care and tribal scholarship funds beginning in 2019.

Casino games like keno and gambling games like poker have been legal in Montana for many years along with video poker and certain types of slot machines. In fact, Montana has over 1,400 licensed gambling operators including 165 casinos. Exactly how much money adding blackjack would bring in is yet to be determined, but adding it would be another tool in the toolkit.

Live table games draw many people in for a different element of social gaming and excitement that Montanans now travel outside the state for to North and South Dakota and Las Vegas. But this is a Montana-made solution that limits the number of tables per establishment so that we can bring benefits to small communities without inviting large casinos to swoop in.  

Similar measures have helped other states by boosting revenue, and if this bill is signed Montana could see revenues almost immediately in the form of licensing fees. This is a simple solution that could end up having a big impact on Montana. For those who chose to play blackjack, they’re putting a portion of their money toward social services, tribal scholarship programs and education.

——

Reps. Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, and Steve Lavin, R, Kalispell