Sponsor Statement for

Committee Substitute for House Bill 20 (Fin)

CS for House Bill 20(Fin) would authorize dog mushers' associations, which run races recognized by the Division of Charitable Gaming, to conduct statewide games of chance. The division recognizes those associations which have been in existence for at least three years, have at least 25 Alaskan members and be a not for profit organization. Prizes may be awarded for the closest guesses of at least three elements of uncertainty about a sled dog race that cannot be determined before the start of the race. The intent is to provide a mechanism to assist race organizing committees to become financially self-sufficient.

High profile protests from animal rights activists have caused important corporate sponsors to withdraw financial support. CS for House Bill 20(Fin) would create a sweepstakes similar to that currently being used by the Iditarod Race Committee and, hopefully, allow sled dog races which do not have strong financial backing to continue.

CS for House Bill 20(Fin) will allow contestants to purchase raffle tickets on which the contestant would guess the checkpoints and finish line arrival times, the temperature when the a particular team crosses the finish line, total number of dogs that finish the race, etc. The dog mushers' associations will administer the mushers' contests in conjunction with state regulatory authority.