THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY BOBACK, CALTAGIRONE, DALEY, DAVIS, DeLUCA, FABRIZIO, FARRY, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HAHN, HALUSKA, HELM, JOSEPHS, KAUFFMAN, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MALONEY, MASSER, MILLARD, MOUL, RAPP, SWANGER, TAYLOR, THOMAS, TOOHIL, WAGNER, WHITE AND YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 14, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, OCTOBER 14, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156),

entitled, as amended, "An act providing for the licensing of

eligible organizations to conduct games of chance, for the

licensing of persons to distribute games of chance, for the

registration of manufacturers of games of chance, and for

suspensions and revocations of licenses and permits;

requiring records; providing for local referendum by

electorate; and prescribing penalties," further providing for

the definition of "games of chance"; and providing for the

definition of "a night at the races."

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The definition of "games of chance" in section 3

of the act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156), known as the

Local Option Small Games of Chance Act, amended October 18, 2000

(P.L.602, No.79), is amended and the section is amended by

adding a definition to read:

Section 3.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

* * *

"Games of chance."  Punchboards, daily drawings, weekly

drawings, raffles, a night at the races and pull-tabs, as

defined in this act, provided that no such game shall be played

by or with the assistance of any mechanical or electrical

devices or media other than a dispensing machine or passive

selection device and further provided that the particular chance

taken by any person in any such game shall not be made

contingent upon any other occurrence or the winning of any other

contest, but shall be determined solely at the discretion of the

purchaser. This definition shall not be construed to authorize

any other form of gambling currently prohibited under any

provision of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

(relating to crimes and offenses). Nothing in this act shall be

construed to authorize games commonly known as "slot machines"

or "video poker."

* * *

"A night at the races."  A game in which a participant places

a wager on a prerecorded horse race.

* * *

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.