Insights From Minnesota Bar Regulars On Pull-Tabs

Whether you are in a small town dive bar or at a bar in a larger city, chances are you are steps away from one of the Midwest's biggest forms of entertainment, pull-tabs. Most Minnesotans are familiar with the game of chance, but it's the pull-tab veterans who can really teach you about the game, with both spoken and unspoken rules. Here are 3 habits most Minnesota bar regulars swear by when they start crackin' open pull-tabs.

What Are Pull-Tabs?

If you aren't familiar with pull-tabs, first welcome to the Midwest; second, it's a form of charitable gaming that has players buying small paper tickets that contain symbols hidden behind perforated tabs. The player opens the perforated windows on the ticket to reveal a winning combination. The player turns in the winning ticket for a prize.

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Oftentimes, the proceeds from the games benefit an organization like youth hockey.

Habit #1 - Always Check The Flare Before Buying

It seems like common sense, but check to see what's left in the box before you dive in. If there are only smaller winners left and you are trophy hunting/'investing', skip that box and move on to another one. Chances are, you've been at a bar when a run on a box happens. That's usually when there aren't many pull-tabs left in the box, but there are still some larger winners inside. Usually, the person who pulls that big one is just 'visiting' that day.

Habit #2 - Stay Loyal To “Your” Box

Tammy Wynette sang the song, Stand By Your Man, in this case, you should be loyal to the box you've been playing. It's more superstition than etiquette, but many regulars feel that if you started it, you should see it finished.

Many regulars pick one box and stick with it instead of bouncing between boxes or machines. Some players truly believe boxes get “hot.” Others just don’t want someone else jumping in and hitting the big prize after they already spent $40 working it.

If you do switch it up, and you are playing at a table, make sure there is consensus on hopping boxes from your table; many times this will happen if there is a 'run on a box'. (See Habit 1)

Habit #3 - Cash Small Wins, Roll The Rest

A lot of veterans will do the following when playing pull-tabs. Vets will pocket the bigger wins but immediately turn $2 and $5 winners back into more tabs. Hence, they are playing with 'house money'.

Just remember the golden rule of pull-tabs. "Never leave after a small win". You're just getting the box warmed up to hit the big one, that's of course coming due. Oftentimes, creating a false 'run'.