Parker Laite of Freeport is a veteran and member of the VFW and American Legion.

Maine has one of the highest veteran populations per capita in the nation — a fact our elected leaders often cite with pride. But pride alone is not enough. When service members return home, ensuring they receive meaningful, long-term support must be a priority. That responsibility extends beyond words of appreciation and requires practical policies that strengthen the institutions veterans rely on throughout their lives.

LD 1902 — An Act to Support Nonprofit Organizations by Authorizing the Operation of
Electronic Lucky Seven Devices and Similar Sealed Ticket Games — offers a practical and responsible way to meet that obligation.

The bill allows veterans’ organizations such as Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts to modernize their fundraising by offering electronic pull tabs, a digital version of a longstanding and well-regulated tool. This approach builds on existing charitable gaming structures while recognizing that fundraising methods must evolve to remain effective.

Electronic pull tabs are already used successfully in many states, where they have helped charitable organizations increase revenue while maintaining strong oversight and accountability. For Maine’s veterans’ organizations, this modernization could make a meaningful difference.

These posts are cornerstones of communities across Maine. They host events, provide safe spaces for veterans to connect, support local causes and deliver direct assistance to veterans and their families — from emergency aid and scholarships to food drives and partnerships with other nonprofits. Like many nonprofits, however, they face rising costs, aging facilities and declining participation in traditional fundraising. These pressures increasingly limit their ability to meet growing needs.

Electronic pull tabs offer a path forward. By expanding fundraising capacity without abandoning a familiar and proven model, this modernization offers flexibility without unnecessary risk. In states that have adopted similar systems, charitable gaming revenue has grown significantly, enabling organizations to reinvest more deeply in their missions and improve long-term stability.

Just as important, LD 1902 provides direct support to the critical work of Maine Veterans’ Homes. These facilities deliver specialized, high-quality care to veterans, as well as their spouses, widows, widowers and Gold Star parents.

In recent years, Maine Veterans’ Homes have struggled financially under the weight of rising costs and inadequate reimbursement rates. Lawmakers have repeatedly stepped in with emergency funding to prevent closures, but reliance on short-term fixes creates uncertainty for residents, families and staff. Stable, predictable funding is essential for maintaining quality care and planning responsibly for the future. Veterans’ long-term care should not depend on last-minute legislative interventions.

LD 1902 addresses that challenge by directing 5% of gross revenue from electronic pull tabs to the Maine Veterans’ Homes Stabilization Fund, creating a dedicated, ongoing source of support. Importantly, it does so without relying on taxpayer dollars, instead leveraging the modernization of existing fundraising to generate sustainable resources for veteran care.

We ask a great deal of our service members. Ensuring they have access to quality care later in life is not optional — it is our responsibility. At the same time, supporting the organizations that serve them every day strengthens communities across Maine.

Maine legislators have an opportunity to act thoughtfully and proactively. By passing LD 1902, they can strengthen veterans’ organizations, stabilize Maine Veterans’ Homes and better support those who have served our nation. They should seize that opportunity.