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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	December 12, 2014 12:02 PM
From:	Senator Bob Mensch
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Permitting Lottery Sales at State Wine and Spirits Stores

In the near future I plan on re-introducing SB 104 that would permit lottery sales at state liquor stores which would increase the Commonwealth’s revenue and funding for services to older Pennsylvanians, while adding to the convenience of consumers in the state. Lottery ticket sales, which are commonplace at the licensed liquor stores of other states, are not specifically authorized by the Liquor Code and therefore they are not permitted in stores run by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB). My legislation will give the PLCB the authority to be licensed as a Lottery Sales Agent. In past Appropriations Hearings board representatives testified regarding the potential new revenue that could be garnered for vital aging services provided through lottery funding simply by allowing the agency to sell lottery tickets. The PLCB and lottery representatives have had discussions regarding the allowance of automated, self-service lottery machines on the premises of the PLCB’s wine and spirits stores. Data submitted by Revenue indicates that if the PLCB were permitted to sell lottery tickets through counter sales and vending machines in its state store system, and retained the 5% retail commission (plus bonuses) as other lottery sales agents are permitted to retain, it could see an increase in revenue of approximately $8,000,000 per year. With only vending machine sales, revenue could increase upwards of $2,000,000 per year for sales. Considering our growing aging populations and the waitlist we currently have in Pennsylvania for aging services, the increased funding liquor store lottery sales would bring is very needed by one of our most vulnerable populations. Co-sponsors from last session were SCARNATI, TOMLINSON, TEPLITZ, FONTANA, RAFFERTY, FERLO, ERICKSON, GORDNER, YUDICHAK, TARTAGLIONE, SOLOBAY, HUGHES AND ALLOWAY.

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