Bill Would Modernize
'Games of Chance' Laws
To modernize Pennsylvania’s laws regarding small games of chance, Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Lower Paxton) is reintroducing legislation that would overhaul current law and give many organizations the ability to continue funding efforts to enhance communities across the Commonwealth.
“Many of the limitations in current law provide inadequate flexibility to non-profits and have hampered their efforts to fund charitable causes in all of our districts,” said Marsico. “Rather than taking a piecemeal approach, I am proposing a comprehensive overhaul.”
Marsico’s legislation includes the following recommendations:
Increase the payout limit of $5,000 per seven-day period for small games of chance to $20,000 per seven-day period.
Eliminate advertising restrictions on small games of chance.
Allow progressive games in small games of chance.
Increase top tier payouts for a single winner in small games of chance from $500 to $1,000.
Require winning tickets to be treated in accordance with IRS regulations for reporting purposes ($600 and above recorded, $1,200 and above reported).
Make insured small games of chance available.
Allow more than one small games of chance license per building.
Provide that the District Attorney's have further power to investigate and enforce violations of the Act.
Progressive games are those where a winner moves on to a higher board with an additional chance to win. Insured games allow smaller organizations to offer bigger jackpots without risking breaking the bank. An insured game is one where a third party pays the winner of a jackpot while the organization pays smaller winning tickets.
Across the Commonwealth organizations from veterans clubs to churches to humane societies and fire companies use small games of chance to raise money for charitable purposes in their communities.
“While I have no reliable independent index to cite, it is safe to say, with more than 20,000 licenses in Pennsylvania, that these groups pour in excess of hundreds of millions of dollars into their communities each year,” said Marsico. “With the decades old limitations currently in place, these groups are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the needs of their communities. My proposal should not cost the Commonwealth anything in dollars while ensuring the flow of good works by these organizations continue.”
Marsico’s legislation will be introduced in the House in the near future.
“Many of the limitations in current law provide inadequate flexibility to non-profits and have hampered their efforts to fund charitable causes in all of our districts,” said Marsico. “Rather than taking a piecemeal approach, I am proposing a comprehensive overhaul.”
Marsico’s legislation includes the following recommendations:
Increase the payout limit of $5,000 per seven-day period for small games of chance to $20,000 per seven-day period.
Eliminate advertising restrictions on small games of chance.
Allow progressive games in small games of chance.
Increase top tier payouts for a single winner in small games of chance from $500 to $1,000.
Require winning tickets to be treated in accordance with IRS regulations for reporting purposes ($600 and above recorded, $1,200 and above reported).
Make insured small games of chance available.
Allow more than one small games of chance license per building.
Provide that the District Attorney's have further power to investigate and enforce violations of the Act.
Progressive games are those where a winner moves on to a higher board with an additional chance to win. Insured games allow smaller organizations to offer bigger jackpots without risking breaking the bank. An insured game is one where a third party pays the winner of a jackpot while the organization pays smaller winning tickets.
Across the Commonwealth organizations from veterans clubs to churches to humane societies and fire companies use small games of chance to raise money for charitable purposes in their communities.
“While I have no reliable independent index to cite, it is safe to say, with more than 20,000 licenses in Pennsylvania, that these groups pour in excess of hundreds of millions of dollars into their communities each year,” said Marsico. “With the decades old limitations currently in place, these groups are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the needs of their communities. My proposal should not cost the Commonwealth anything in dollars while ensuring the flow of good works by these organizations continue.”
Marsico’s legislation will be introduced in the House in the near future.
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