Local Lawmakers Heartened by Small Games of Chance Overhaul Bill

See what two local legislators had to say about the bill.

Southwestern Pennsylvania lawmakers on Wednesday said help is on the way for beleaguered veterans’ groups, fire companies, fraternal organizations and small clubs "victimized" by changes to the rules governing small games of chance. “I urge the state Senate to move with utmost urgency on this legislation so we don’t lose any more groups that have long histories of benefitting our communities,” said state Rep. Brandon Neuman, D-North Strabane. “It was a great bipartisan effort to help our veterans groups, nonprofits and clubs to be able to remain open and help our community.”  State Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, also lauded the new bill. “The changes made to small games of chance last year had real repercussions on our towns and communities,” …

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On Point with Sen. Tim Solobay

New Bill Will Fix Small Games Law

'We can’t put any more burden on already over-extended volunteers and we have to recognize the importance of local volunteer organizations to both the fabric and the economy of our communities," Sen. Tim Solobay says in his most recent edition of On Point

The small games of chance law that went into effect last year made it impossible for some small organizations to comply with its cumbersome reporting requirements, a complication that threatened the existence of some important community assets. We can’t put any more burden on already over-extended volunteers and we have to recognize the importance of local volunteer organizations to both the fabric and the economy of our communities. Last week, I introduced a bill that will make needed changes to the law. Earlier this year, the Corbett administration agreed—after some colleagues and I wrote a letter—to suspend the reporting requirements of Act 2 of 2012.  We had heard from community leaders across Pennsylvania who warned that the bill’s …

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Representin'

Small Games of Chance Changes on Hold for 2013

'We need to hear from the real people and groups running small games of chance, not just their statewide organizations.'

One of the most controversial pieces of legislation passed in Harrisburg last year was Act 2 of 2012, which dealt with reporting requirements for organizations with a Small Games of Chance (SGOC) license. Although labeled as “reforms,” many of the new requirements sparked an outcry from local social clubs, veterans’ organizations and fire departments that depend on these small games to survive. Apparently these changes had been negotiated and approved by the statewide organizations without any real input from the local chapters; as a result, no one realized there was a problem until the bill had already been signed by Gov. Tom Corbett. The new requirements were set to take effect in February 2013, and after talking with many of the clubs …

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New Small Games of Chance Law Impacting Local Clubs

State Rep. Jesse White gives you a primer on the new law.

On Feb. 2, 2012, Gov. Tom Corbett signed into law Act 2 amending the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act to create new definitions, increase prize limits, provide additional licensing rules and regulations for organizations and amend enforcement provisions. This law mainly impacts small local clubs run by organizations like the VFW and American Legion. Despite the endorsement and support of the state Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the state Federation of Fraternal and Social Organizations and Pennsylvania's Association of Nationally Chartered Organizations, many local clubs have expressed confusion and frustration over the changes. It seemed as though the parent organizations didn’t really confer with their members before …

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Small Games of Chance Legislation Passes State House

The bill—lauded by Sen. Tim Solobay—now heads to the governor's desk.

The state House this week passed a bill that will help local volunteer organizations earn more revenue from small games of chance—legislation Sen. Tim Solobay lauded. “Some of these outfits have been having a hard time making ends meet and this bill makes some common-sense changes to help them raise more money for the good work they do,” Solobay, D-Canonsburg, a longtime volunteer fireman, said. The House this week concurred on the Senate version of House Bill 169. The provisions were largely the same as Solobay’s Senate Bill 169—the latest edition of an effort that dates back to 2007.   The bill now goes to the governor’s desk. “We’ve been trying to get this done for a long time,” he said. “Anytime you allow more money to move around you …

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