Sep. 29, 2016
HARRISBURG – By a vote of 167-21, the House voted today to approve legislation sponsored by Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) that would eliminate the cap on weekly prize payouts for nonprofit and club licensees offering small games of chance, enabling them to make larger contributions to local charities.
By law, all proceeds of small games raised by nonprofits go to charities in their home communities, and nonprofits with liquor licenses must contribute 60 percent of their small games revenue to charity. Club licenses can keep the first $20,000 raised and must contribute 60 percent of additional revenue to charity.
“By lifting the $35,000 limit on weekly prizes awarded by clubs and nonprofits, my bill would allow them to generate even more revenue for local charities,” said Moul. “This is money that could be used to help fire companies, little league teams and to build stronger communities.”
In addition,
House Bill 1313 would allow for 3-year games of chance licenses and expand the number and types of games offered by clubs, nonprofits and tavern liquor licensees.
The legislation would cut the cost of small games licenses for taverns in half and sharply reduce or eliminate fees associated with small games applications, investigations and renewals. It would also substantially reduce civil and criminal penalties for violations associated with small games license, and no liquor code violations would occur until the third small games violation in a calendar year. Licensees risk revocation of their small games license after four violations in a two-year period.
House Bill 1313 now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Representative Dan Moul
91st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717.260.6452
dpinkham@pahousegop.com
RepMoul.com