Gambling rolls in $224K for Claremont Chamber

Charitable donations given by the Claremont Area Chamber of Commerce increased sharply by $40,000 over the previous year.
In 2023, organizations, churches and benefits throughout Steele and Dodge counties received $224,000 from charitable gambling proceeds, according to Dean Schuette, president of the Claremont Chamber. The chamber raised $186,000 in 2022 and $229,000 in 2021.
Schuette attributes last year’s increase to a slight uptick in the overall economy and the fact that people simply like to play the games. “It’s mostly because of the entertainment factor in the games,” he said. “The games are fun to play, and people enjoy them.”
There are four locations offering gambling through the Claremont Chamber: J&H Liquor in Blooming Prairie, Claremont Pub, Dodge Center Country Club and Dodge Center Legion. The charitable gambling comes from bar bingo, pull tabs, e-tabs and sponsor raffles with e-tabs making up the largest portion of revenue, Schuette said.
While the Claremont Chamber has been enjoying the steady increase of gambling, things may not be so rosy come the end of 2024. Schuette said charitable gambling organizations around Minnesota are running into stiff opposition from Indian gaming, which may adversely affect overall profits for organizations like Claremont Chamber.
Electronic pull-tabs have become a cash cow in Minnesota since they were legalized to pay for the Vikings stadium in 2012. During last year’s legislative session, lawmakers began caving to pressure from the Indian tribes by recommending new restrictions on the games, Schuette said. The legislature wants to put the brakes on what has been exponential growth of the games. A provision in the tax bill prohibits some of the most attractive features, so-called “open all” games that allow a single touch to reveal all of a player’s prize chances at once, as well as second-chance provisions.
Schuette claims changes to the way e-tabs are played will make the games less attractive and be a serious setback for state charities and the more than $120 million a year that they give away.
Existing games are allowed in bars through the end of this year.
“They have crucified charitable gambling,” Schuette said of lawmakers. “We are headed over the cliff, if the legislature doesn’t change things,” he said, noting the issue will likely come up again in the current session with the hope of leaving e-tabs alone like they’ve been for the past decade. However, Schuette is not hopeful.
If the legislature doesn’t reverse course, Schuette said, “It will mean a drastic difference for us. It’s jeopardizing 65% of our business.” He added it will hurt what his organization has been able to do for the tiny community of Claremont and every other community in Steele and Dodge counties.
Schuette said the Claremont Chamber is focused on donating to every entity that is “underfunded and needs help.” Last year alone, the organization donated to 84 different groups. “We are a chamber in name only as we help where taxation doesn’t cover,” he said.
The chamber, for example, has played an integral part in constructing a new ball diamond in Claremont. Schuette said they have contributed $150,000 over the past five years.
“Most small towns live and die by charitable gambling funding,” said Schuette, who also serves as a director with Allied Charities of Minnesota, which acts as an advocate and resource for licensed charities engaged in lawful gambling. He said Allied’s mission is to make people aware of how catastrophic these changes can be if they are not reversed.
Schuette promises relentless pressure against Democratic candidates running for office this fall if nothing is changed in the current legislative session. “Things have become very political. They can ramrod a lot of things through that aren’t in the best interests of the general public,” he said, adding elections do have consequences.