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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 17, 2020 01:05 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Ryan Warner |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Virtual Small Games of Chance During COVID-19 Pandemic |
| In the near future, I intend to reintroduce legislation (former HB 2764) to permit Small Games of Chance (SGOC) licensees to conduct games online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Events to raffle popular items have become important community fundraisers throughout Pennsylvania. COVID-19 restrictions have greatly inhibited the fire departments, veterans’ associations and other non-profit organizations that rely on revenue from these events. However, many of these entities have not only continued to operate, but in some cases, particularly first response agencies, have experienced an increase in their expenses because of the coronavirus. Some licensees took an innovative approach to make up for this revenue loss by using online methods to conduct games of chance. However, current enforcement regulations and procedures do not expressly allow for online sales of small games chances but do prohibit licensees from accepting credit card and online payments from participants. This legislation proposes statutory language to allow SGOC licensees to conduct online games as well as conduct online transactions during the duration of the COVID-19 emergency declaration. Please consider joining me in this important effort. |
Introduced as HB290