Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's staff is “working with the charities to beef up marketing to boost" the "popularity" of electronic gambling used to help fund the Vikings' new stadium, according to Doug Belden of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. Allied Charities Exec Dir Al Lund said that the push is to “persuade more charities and bars to adopt the newly authorized electronic forms of pull-tabs and bingo and, once they're installed in enough places, to persuade the public to go out and play them.” Lund added that “no dollar figure was discussed for how much would be spent on the effort.” Lund said that the plan is for the charities to “fund the marketing efforts in partnership with other stakeholders in the process, such as game manufacturers.” Belden noted another meeting with officials from the Minnesota State Lottery, which “could play a role as a backup stadium funding source, is scheduled" for this week. The state “initially projected the new electronic devices would be installed in 2,500 bars.” But by the “middle of last month, they were in fewer than 200” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 4/6).
