Charitable Gambling Regulation Review

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Consultation has concluded


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Photo credit: State of MN

The Bloomington City Council is considering changes to the City’s charitable gambling regulations. The goal of potential changes is to increase the amount of charitable gambling revenue that stays within and benefits the Bloomington community.


Before any decisions are made, the City is gathering feedback from charitable gambling organizations regarding how potential changes would impact their operations.

Potential ordinance changes under consideration by the City Council include:

  • Establishing a 10% charitable contribution fund
  • Increasing the current 30% trade area requirement
  • Requiring that charitable gambling organizations operating within Bloomington have a local tie to the City

In addition, the City Council recently received a request from the Mall of America to remove a regulation that limits charitable gambling to the fourth floor. The potential change would allow charitable gambling within eligible tenants throughout the Mall of America. The City Council will be reviewing this request as part of its overall review of charitable gambling regulations.


Pull Tabs and Electronic Pull Tabs
Photo credit: State of MN

The Bloomington City Council is considering changes to the City’s charitable gambling regulations. The goal of potential changes is to increase the amount of charitable gambling revenue that stays within and benefits the Bloomington community.


Before any decisions are made, the City is gathering feedback from charitable gambling organizations regarding how potential changes would impact their operations.

Potential ordinance changes under consideration by the City Council include:

  • Establishing a 10% charitable contribution fund
  • Increasing the current 30% trade area requirement
  • Requiring that charitable gambling organizations operating within Bloomington have a local tie to the City

In addition, the City Council recently received a request from the Mall of America to remove a regulation that limits charitable gambling to the fourth floor. The potential change would allow charitable gambling within eligible tenants throughout the Mall of America. The City Council will be reviewing this request as part of its overall review of charitable gambling regulations.

Consultation has concluded

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    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    Establishing a 10% charitable contribution fund

    A city may require an organization to contribute up to 10% per year of net profits to a fund that the city administers and regulates. The funds may only be spent by the city for charitable contributions allowed under state law.

    Net profits are gross profits less amounts expended for that site's allowable expenses and portion of lawful gambling taxes. The 10% contribution requirement may only be applied to net profits derived from lawful gambling conducted at premises within the city’s jurisdiction.

    For more information on 10% charitable contribution funds, visit Minnesota Gambling Control Board.

    Increasing the 30% trade area requirement

    Currently, the City requires charitable gambling license holders to spend at least 30% of its lawful purpose expenditures within the City’s trade area. The City’s trade area is the cities of Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eden Prairie, Eagan, Burnsville, and Savage.

    Under state law, the City could choose to increase the trade area spending requirement up to 100% of lawful purpose expenditures. A specific percentage has not yet been determined.

    Requiring a tie to the Bloomington community

    Some cities limit their approval of premise permits to organizations that have a tie to the local community. Bloomington is considering enacting language that would require future premise permit applicants have a local tie to Bloomington. Some examples of a local tie to the community include: having an office in city, having members who live or work in the City, and providing substantial services within the city.

    Lawful Gambling at the Mall of America

    City Code currently prohibits premise permits at the Mall of America, except for establishments on the fourth floor. The Mall of America has submitted a request to remove this limitation and allow lawful gambling at eligible locations on any floor of the Mall of America.