Frequently Asked Questions

The Pennsylvania Local Option Small Games of Chance Act, 1988 P.L 1262, No. 156 as amended. The Act allows certain nonprofit organizations, known as "eligible organizations", to conduct specific small games of chance for the purpose of raising funds for the promotion of "public interest purposes". 

No. The Pennsylvania Crimes Code provides that all forms of gambling are illegal unless the activity is specifically authorized by the Pennsylvania Legislature.  Only those specific types of small games of chance as defined by the Act are permitted by virtue of being licensed under the Act.  Currently permitted by the Act are: 

• Punchboards 
• Pull-Tabs 
• Raffles 
• Daily Drawings 
• Weekly Drawings 
• 50/50 Drawings (Major League Sports Drawings) 
• Race Night Games o Pools (Excluding Sports Pools) 

Unless otherwise authorized by law all other forms of gambling are prohibited criminal offenses under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code. 

No, because it is not considered gambling. Pennsylvania courts have determined that gambling consists of three basic elements: Consideration (cost to play or event), Chance (event outcome based wholly or predominantly on chance), and Reward (return to the player for winning event). All three elements must be present to establish that an activity constitutes gambling. 

• Texas Hold’em Tournaments
• Paddle Auctions
• Casino Nights
• Sports Pools – football, basketball, NASCAR, etc.
• Vertical wheel or “Chuck-a-Luck Wheel”
• Video Gambling Devices - video poker or slots

None of these activities are authorized by the Small Games of Chance Act.

A license cannot be granted to an individual. Only an "eligible organization" as defined in Pennsylvania Local Option Small Games of Chance Act (the Act), 1988 P.L 1262, No. 156 as amended, can apply.   

The organization must meet the definition of an eligible organization found in §103 of the Act. The organization must be able to prove that it has been in existence for one year prior to making application for a license.  Upon making application for a Local Option Small Games of Chance License, the organization's Articles of Incorporation and/or bylaws must accompany the application.   If the organization is not incorporated, it must provide it bylaws and any other documentation that sets forth the organization's executive structure and purpose, most importantly providing for a President and Secretary.  The documentation that must accompany the license application can be found at the bottom of page 2 of the application.  

• A regular license, which permits year-long gaming, is $125.00.  
• A monthly license, which permits gaming for 30 consecutive days, is $25.00.  
• A special raffle permit is $25.00 and is required for each raffle with a prize in excess of $2,000. Only current license holders may apply for a Special Raffle Permit. The holder of a regular license is permitted to apply for and be granted no more than ten special permits per license year, except fire, ambulance, rescue, or conservations organizations (not club) which may apply for and be granted no more than 12 special permits per license year.

If the organization possesses a liquor license then they qualify as a club. Clubs must complete sections 4a and 4b of the Eligible Organization Games of Chance application, which request the Liquor Identification Number (LID) and Liquor License Number, respectively. Club applicants holding a liquor license must attach their most recent annual report filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue to their Eligible Organization Games of Chance Application.

No. Only the organization in whose name the license is issued may conduct small games of chance. 

Yes. Auxiliary groups within eligible organizations shall be eligible to conduct small games of chance using the license issued to the eligible organization provided that the auxiliary group or groups are listed on the application for license and the license of the eligible organization.  Auxiliary groups shall not include branches of lodges or chapters of a Statewide organization. 

 No. The amendments made to the Act in 2012 now specifically prohibit an auxiliary to an eligible organization from applying for and being issued its own license.  

The parent organization can fill out a new application and select the “Change of Data” block in section 1. In this case, no additional documents need to be attached, and there is no charge for the change of data. On the new application, the auxiliary organization must be listed in Schedule E. An email to the Treasurer’s Office with details of the change of data is also acceptable in lieu of filling out a new application.

 No, public school districts, nor any political subdivision are eligible for licensing. Parochial schools are eligible for licensing if they otherwise meet the requirements for an eligible organization. 

No. An organization, whose purpose is non-partisan such as devoted to non-partisan voter registration efforts, would be eligible if they otherwise meet the requirements for an eligible organization.  

The District Attorney is charged with investigating violations of the Act, however, any State, county or local law enforcement official is empowered to investigate violations of the Act.  

Yes. The Cumberland County Treasurer can revoke a license upon the recommendation of the District Attorney if it is found that grounds for revocation listed in §107 of the Act exist.

No, it will be filed by the Treasurer with the application and becomes public information.

Yes. Small games of chance may only be played and eligible organizations licensed in those municipalities that have approved the licensing and conduct of small games of chance by voter referendum. A list of municipalities that have and have not passed the referendum question can be viewed on the Cumberland County Treasurer's website.

Small games of chance, with certain exceptions, may only be played at the eligible organization's "licensed premises" (regular place of business, or other location specifically listed on the eligible organization's application for license). Each eligible organization must list its "licensed premises" on its license application. Members of the eligible organization may sell raffle tickets in any municipality that has approved Small Games of Chance by voter referendum.

An eligible organization may also conduct small games of chance off its licensed premises at an annual carnival, fair, picnic or banquet held by the organization on an historic basis, but it is required to provide written notice to the District Attorney and Treasurer of its intent to do so. See Off-site Notification Letter link on Cumberland County Treasurer’s website.

Yes.  No one under 18 years of age may play small games of chance.   

Yes. An eligible organization may sell tickets in a county other than the county in which they are licensed, but must give written notice to the District Attorney and Treasurer of each county in which they intend to sell tickets of their intent to do so.  The notice must clearly set forth the location(s) and date(s) sales will take place. It is also suggested that the notice contain the eligible organization's license number. Remember, the Act applies to all counties, so sales of raffle tickets can only take place in municipalities that have approved the small games of chance question by voter referendum.

No. Only a "Bona fide member" of the eligible organization who is at least 18 years of age as defined by the Act may conduct small games of chance on behalf of the eligible organization. 

No. The Act specifically prohibits anyone from being paid or compensated in any manner for conducting small games of chance.

Yes.  The Act permits the proceeds to be used for only "Public interest purposes" as defined in §103 of the Act.  

Yes.  There are very specific prize limits.  Prize limits can be found in §302 of the Act.  Members of eligible organizations should review the Act.   

• Individual Prize Limit - Maximum cash prize which may be awarded for any single chance shall not exceed $2,000
• Raffle Prize Limit- Maximum cash prize which may be awarded in raffles in any calendar month shall not exceed $15,000
• Aggregate Prize Limit- Maximum weekly (7 day) prize limit awarded from games of chance by a licensed eligible organization shall not exceed $35,000

Raffles conducted under a special raffle permit are subject to separate prize limits (as noted in the Special Raffle Permits section). Daily and weekly drawings in which amounts are paid out in a carryover daily drawing or weekly drawing are not subject to the prize limits. A carryover occurs when there is no winner in the prior daily or weekly drawing and the prize from such drawing is carried over to be included as a prize in the next daily or weekly drawing. When daily or weekly drawings pay out 100 percent of the gross revenue from the game, the prize does not count against the weekly prize limit. Major league sports drawings are not subject to the general prize limits.

No.  Under 18 Pa. C.S.A. §5511.1 no animal, except goldfish, may be given away as a prize in any game of chance.  This prohibition does not apply to domestic animals given away or sold in connection with any agricultural, educational, or vocational program sponsored or sanctioned by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.