North Dakota House Bill HB1192

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/10/25
• Refer: 1/10/25
• Report Pass: 1/23/25
• Engrossed: 1/27/25
• Refer: 2/13/25
• Report Pass: 3/7/25
• Enrolled: 3/12/25
• Passed: 3/18/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend and reenact subdivision a of subsection 1 of section 53-06.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the limitation on the value of a primary prize a permitted organization conducting gaming may award.

Summary

HB 1192 amends North Dakota’s charitable gaming law to increase the maximum prize amounts that certain permitted organizations may award. For local permits and restricted event permits, a public-spirited organization would be allowed to award a primary prize of up to $15,000, up from $8,000, and total annual prizes from all games would increase to $50,000, up from $40,000. The bill keeps existing limits on the types of games that may be offered under each permit category and preserves the exception for raffles conducted under chapter 20.1-08. The bill also leaves intact the requirement that an organization disclose on its permit application how it intends to use the net income from gaming activity, and it does not change the authority of local governing bodies to decide whether an organization qualifies as “public-spirited” or to set times and places for permitted games. In practical terms, the measure expands the prize ceiling for eligible charitable and community organizations while maintaining local control over permitting and oversight.

Impact

HB 1192 amends section 53-06.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, specifically the provisions governing local gaming permits for public-spirited organizations. The bill raises the statutory cap on a primary prize and the annual aggregate prize limit for permitted gaming activities, affecting organizations that conduct raffles, bingo, sports pools, paddlewheels, twenty-one, and poker under local or restricted event permits. It does not alter the underlying permit structure, eligibility standards, or the separate treatment of raffles under chapter 20.1-08.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have broad support overall, passing the House 88-3 and the Senate 38-7. The vote margins suggest general agreement that the prize limits were too low and should be updated, likely to better support charitable gaming fundraising and make permitted games more attractive. The absence of committee transcript material limits insight into detailed debate, but the recorded votes indicate the measure was not highly controversial.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the policy choice to increase gaming prize limits, which can raise concerns about expanding gambling incentives or loosening limits on charitable gaming. Any opposition would most likely come from lawmakers or stakeholders worried about gambling exposure, regulatory creep, or the social effects of larger prizes. At the same time, supporters likely viewed the change as a modest adjustment that helps public-spirited organizations raise more money without changing local oversight or permit controls.