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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 3, 2013 10:43 AM
From: Senator Timothy J. Solobay
To: All Senate members
Subject: Small Games of Chance Amendments
 
In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation that would amend the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act to address concerns recently raised by many organizations that use games of chance to raise funds.

My bill would increase the portion of proceeds from games of chance that a club licensee may keep for operating expenses from 30% to 50%. Since many of the organizations that conduct games of chance rely on volunteers to operate, my legislation would also exempt smaller organizations from burdensome new reporting requirements if they make under $100,000 a year from games of chance.

Other significant provisions of this legislation would allow monthly drawings, Chinese auctions, Night at the Races, coin auctions, and other events and games that many organizations have hosted for years. Local law enforcement and county licensing authorities would be responsible for violations of the law.

Additionally, this legislation will:
  • allow organizations to limit the prize of a daily and weekly drawing if the winner is not present at the time of the drawing;
  • permit eligible organizations to use the premises of another licensed organization with proper notification of the district attorney;
  • allow raffle tickets to be sold outside of the county of where an organization is located;
  • enable non-organization members to sell tickets with written consent of the organization’s officers;
  • clarify that a club licensee’s charity events, scholarship programs and other philanthropic events are valid public interest purposes;
  • and require background checks with the license application only when there is a change in the organization’s leadership or an individual is the subject of criminal history information.

The primary purpose of allowing of small games of chance has all along been to assist veterans' clubs, volunteer fire companies, and other nonprofit associations raise money for charitable or civic purposes. While Act 2 of 2012 was meant to aid these organizations in this goal, it has unfortunately resulted in widespread confusion and hardship. With many of these organizations now struggling to make ends meet, the changes above would help them survive and ensure that their significant contribution to the local community continues.



Introduced as SB390