THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY P. COSTA, YOUNGBLOOD, BRENNAN, V. BROWN, BURNS, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, D. COSTA, DALEY, DEASY, DeLUCA, GERGELY, HORNAMAN, W. KELLER, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MANN, MATZIE, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MOUL AND WHITE, NOVEMBER 17, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, NOVEMBER 17, 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

definitions and for prize limits.

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:

"50/50" raffles."  A game of chance conducted by a major or

minor league baseball team affiliated nonprofit organization at

a home game in which 50% of the money taken in by raffle ticket

sales is offered as the prize and the remaining 50% is retained

by the affiliated nonprofit organization sponsoring the raffle

for the benefit of a charitable organization. A person may

purchase one or more raffle tickets, and each raffle ticket

purchased equals one entry in the drawing for a winner. A single

ticket is randomly chosen as the winner after a certain number

of tickets are sold or a specified time period expires as

designated by the affiliated nonprofit organization. There shall

be no limit on the number of times the organization may conduct

a 50/50 raffle during the course of any one season.

* * *

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

drawings, raffles, 50/50 raffles 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."

* * *

Section 2.  Section 5 of the act is amended by adding a

subsection to read:

Section 5.  Prize limits.

* * *

(i)  50/50 Raffles.--The limitations under subsections (a),

(b) and (c) shall not apply to a prize awarded in a 50/50

raffle. The prize amount for a 50/50 raffle shall be determined

by the total money collected during the 50/50 raffle. Any prize

unclaimed at the end of each baseball season shall be donated to

a charitable organization selected by the sponsoring major or

minor league baseball team affiliated nonprofit organization.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.