Alaska’s veteran organizations have always adapted to meet the needs of those they serve. From helping service members transition back to civilian life to responding to community needs in times of crisis, that adaptability is part of who we are. But today, it is not just our programs that need to evolve. It is the tools that sustain them.
For decades, charitable gaming, particularly pull tabs (or rippies, as they are also known), have helped keep local VFW, American Legion and AMVETS posts open and active. These funds support everything from building maintenance to community programs and veteran services. That model has worked, and it makes a measurable difference. But this tool must adapt to modern times to keep that record going.
Consumers today live in a digital world. We bank on our phones, order groceries online and stay connected through apps and platforms that did not exist a generation ago. The shift did not happen overnight, but it is now complete. We have moved from flip phones to smartphones, from paper forms to digital ones, not because the old ways had no value, but because expectations changed. Even our cars now have this technology link, not just AM/FM stereo.
Charitable gaming in Alaska has not kept up with modern technology. Paper pull tabs remain legal and widely used, but they reflect an earlier era of consumer behavior. For younger veterans and new members especially, the experience can feel outdated compared with the digital interactions they encounter online and everywhere else in daily life. This disconnect creates a barrier to participation.
Other states have recognized this shift and modernized accordingly. Thirteen now allow electronic pull tabs in addition to paper pull tabs, which operate within the same charitable framework but better reflect how people engage today. The outcome has not been a reinvention of charitable gaming, but a revitalization of it, with increased participation and stronger, more sustainable revenues for veteran organizations. Importantly, these systems remain tightly regulated and tied to the same charitable purpose, distinguishing them from high-intensity, for-profit gaming environments often associated with addiction concerns.
Veteran posts are living parts of their communities, places where people get together, support one another and continue a shared mission of service. But like any community institution, they depend on participation. If the way people prefer to engage has evolved, ignoring that reality puts these organizations at risk.
Modernizing pull tabs is, at its core, an acknowledgment of where Alaskans are today. It allows veteran organizations to meet people where they are, rather than forcing them into a system that no longer reflects how they live. It helps attract new, younger members while keeping existing ones engaged. And it provides a more stable revenue foundation for the programs and services that extend far beyond the walls of any one post.
Just as important, it supports the social connection that veteran organizations provide. Whether digital or paper-based, these gaming activities bring people together, creating opportunities for conversation, camaraderie and support that are essential to long-term well-being.
Alaska’s veterans have never been resistant to change when change was necessary. The question now is whether the systems that support them will show the same willingness to evolve. Because in the end, we must ensure the organizations serving Alaska’s veterans and the communities around them remain relevant and sustainable for the next generation.
JR Hackett is VFW 9365 Susitna Post’s legislative chair.
Justin Mills is American Legion Jack Henry Post 1’s commander.
Scott Montagne is AMVETS Post 9’s department commander.
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