PRINTER'S NO. 223
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
243
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY PITTMAN, BROOKS, BARTOLOTTA, MARTIN, ARGALL,
J. WARD, PHILLIPS-HILL, BOSCOLA, DiSANTO, AUMENT, MASTRIANO,
MENSCH, SCHWANK, TARTAGLIONE, REGAN, DUSH, FONTANA, LAUGHLIN
AND COLLETT, FEBRUARY 22, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
FEBRUARY 22, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156),
entitled "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," in games of chance,
providing for games of chance operations during disaster
emergency.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156),
known as the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act, is amended
by adding a section to read:
Section 309. Games of chance operations during disaster
emergency.
(a) General rule.--Notwithstanding the provisions of section
307(b.2), during a disaster emergency, a licensed eligible
organization may:
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(1) conduct games of chance through a publicly
accessible Internet website, social media platform or mobile
application; and
(2) accept electronic payment via credit card, debit
card, mobile electronic payment application or other
electronic payment methods for playing games of chance under
paragraph (1). The licensed eligible organization shall
verify that the purchaser using an electronic payment method
is:
(i) 18 years of age or older; and
(ii) a resident of this Commonwealth.
(b) Prize disbursement.--A winner of a game of chance
conducted under subsection (a) must claim the prize at the
licensed eligible organization's operating site or other
authorized premises. Prize winnings may not be distributed via
United States mail, electronically or via any other messaging
service. Prior to disbursing a prize, a licensed eligible
organization must verify in person the winner's age and
residency as provided under subsection (a)(2).
(c) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "disaster
emergency" means the proclamation of disaster emergency issued
by the Governor on March 6, 2020, published at 50 Pa.B. 1644
(March 21, 2020), and any renewal of the state of disaster
emergency.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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