A state House committee is eyeing a bill that allows veterans groups and fraternal organizations to operate slot machines, as long as they give a share of the proceeds to the state.
The bill being considered by the Delaware House gaming committee Wednesday cleared the Senate last week, but only after lawmakers added a controversial amendment expanding its scope to include local fraternal societies, not just groups with national affiliations.
The Markell administration and lawmakers have been looking to appease veterans groups and fraternal organizations after they were told late last year to stop their illegal slots operations.
The bill makes permanent interim measures that lawmakers hurriedly adopted earlier this year allowing veterans organizations and fraternal groups such as the Moose and Elks to resume slots gambling.
Currently slot play is allowed at state casinos at Dover Downs, Harrington Raceway and Delaware Park.
