HB 520 — An Act amending the act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156), known as the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act, providing for social card games and tournaments.

PRINTER'S NO.   513

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 520
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY DELOZIER, PICKETT, CIRESI, GALLAGHER, ROAE AND
        ROWE, FEBRUARY 5, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, FEBRUARY 5, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156),
 2      entitled "An act providing for the licensing of eligible
 3      organizations to conduct games of chance, for the licensing
 4      of persons to distribute games of chance, for the
 5      registration of manufacturers of games of chance, and for
 6      suspensions and revocations of licenses and permits;
 7      requiring records; providing for local referendum by
 8      electorate; and prescribing penalties," providing for social
 9      card games and tournaments.
10      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11   hereby enacts as follows:
12      Section 1.    The act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156),
13   known as the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act, is amended
14   by adding a chapter to read:
15                                  CHAPTER 8
16                     SOCIAL CARD GAMES AND TOURNAMENTS
17   Section 801.    Definitions.
18      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
19   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
20   context clearly indicates otherwise:
21      "Nonbanking card game."     A card game where players play
 1   against one another rather than against the house. Nonbanking
 2   card games may include any of the following:
 3            (1)   Poker games.
 4            (2)   Hearts.
 5            (3)   Rummy.
 6            (4)   Pinochle.
 7            (5)   Bid Whist.
 8      "Nonbanking card game tournament" or "tournament."    A series
 9   of card games held by a licensed eligible organization during a
10   consecutive period of time of not more than 24 hours and not
11   held as part of any other games of chance.
12      "Pyramid or build-up."     A card game in which a prize must be
13   returned in order to play another game or to be eligible for
14   another bigger prize, or a game in which the prize must be
15   forfeited if a later game is lost.
16      "Social card game" or "card game."    A nonbanking card game
17   that is played by members at the licensed premises of an
18   eligible organization.
19   Section 802.    Authorization to conduct social card games.
20      (a)   General rule.--Notwithstanding any provision of 18
21   Pa.C.S. (relating to crimes and offenses) or any regulation to
22   the contrary, social card games may be played at the licensed
23   premises of an eligible organization in accordance with the
24   requirements of this chapter.
25      (b)   Conditions.--
26            (1)   Card games may only be played by and between members
27      of the eligible organization.
28            (2)   No eligible organization or other person may have an
29      interest, financial or otherwise, in the outcome of a card
30      game.

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 1        (3)     Only nonbanking card games may be played with
 2    members playing against each other.
 3        (4)     Wagering shall be entirely at the discretion of each
 4    player.
 5        (5)     The maximum prize or payout for a card game shall be
 6    limited to $100.
 7        (6)     No eligible organization may charge a fee for play.
 8        (7)     Not more than 10 members may play at a table in a
 9    card game.
10        (8)     Card games may only be played in a room set aside
11    for those activities at the licensed premises of the eligible
12    organization.
13        (9)     Not more than five gaming tables may be made
14    available for the play of card games by the eligible
15    organization.
16        (10)     No card games may be played between the hours of 1
17    a.m. and 1 p.m.
18        (11)     No eligible organization or other person may
19    collect, obtain or charge a percentage of or collect or
20    obtain a portion of a wager or winnings of a player in a card
21    game, except that a player may collect the player's own
22    winnings.
23        (12)     No eligible organization or other person may
24    collect or obtain any money from, or charge or impose a fee
25    upon, a person that either enables the person to play or
26    results in or from the person playing a card game. Nothing in
27    this paragraph shall be construed to preclude the collection
28    of a membership fee by the eligible organization that is
29    unrelated to participation in the play of a card game
30    authorized under this chapter.

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 1            (13)    An eligible organization that allows the use of the
 2      organization's premises for the play of card games by the
 3      organization's members in accordance with this chapter shall
 4      submit a schedule of the proposed dates of the card games and
 5      any card game tournaments to the licensing authority.
 6      (c)   Required postings.--An eligible organization that
 7   permits the play of card games at the organization's licensed
 8   premises shall prominently post the following in close proximity
 9   of card game tables in the room designated to play card games:
10            (1)    The wagering limits for each type of card game.
11            (2)    The rules of play.
12            (3)    Information on where a person can obtain help for
13      problem gambling, including the telephone number for the
14      Pennsylvania Compulsive Gambling Helpline.
15      (d)   Prohibitions.--
16            (1)    It shall be unlawful for an eligible organization
17      to:
18                   (i)    Obtain or collect any money or thing of value
19            from the conduct of card games at a licensed premises.
20                   (ii)    Knowingly permit a card game to be played in
21            violation of this chapter.
22                   (iii)    Fail to comply with the posting requirement in
23            accordance with subsection (c).
24                   (iv)    Engage in any act, practice or course of
25            conduct that would constitute fraud or deceit upon a
26            player in a card game.
27                   (v)    Allow a person under 21 years of age to play a
28            card game at the eligible organization's licensed
29            premises.
30                   (vi)    Knowingly allow a person to employ or attempt

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 1            to employ a device, scheme or artifice to cheat or
 2            defraud a player in a card game.
 3                   (vii)   Advertise a card game in violation of section
 4            704.
 5            (2)    A licensed organization that violates paragraph (1)
 6      shall be subject to the penalties imposed under section
 7      702(d).
 8      (e)     Applicability.--The requirements of sections 502 and 503
 9   may not apply to social card games authorized under this
10   chapter.
11   Section 803.      Authorization to conduct tournaments.
12      (a)     Compliance.--An eligible organization may conduct
13   nonbanking card game tournaments. A tournament conducted by an
14   eligible organization shall comply with all of the following:
15            (1)    Only nonbanking card games shall be played in the
16      tournament.
17            (2)    Each card game shall be conducted in a fair and
18      honest manner and may not be operated on a pyramid or build-
19      up basis.
20            (3)    Each player in the tournament shall be given the
21      same chance of winning the tournament. Second-chance entries
22      or multiple entries shall be prohibited.
23            (4)    The eligible organization shall conduct the
24      tournament and shall not contract with nor permit another
25      person to conduct the tournament or a card game during the
26      tournament.
27            (5)    Only the eligible organization may receive or have a
28      fixed or contingent right to receive, directly or indirectly,
29      any profit, remuneration or compensation from or related to a
30      card game in the tournament, except an amount that a person

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 1    may win as a player on the same basis as the other players.
 2        (6)    No eligible organization may hold more than five
 3    tournaments annually.
 4        (7)    The tournament may not be conducted within seven
 5    calendar days of another tournament conducted by the eligible
 6    organization.
 7        (8)    The eligible organization may hold only one
 8    tournament during a period of 24 consecutive hours, starting
 9    from the time the tournament begins.
10        (9)    At the conclusion of the tournament, the eligible
11    organization shall announce the name of the winning player
12    and the amount of winnings.
13        (10)    The eligible organization shall limit the number of
14    tables used in the tournament to a maximum of five, with a
15    maximum of 10 players at each table.
16        (11)    The tournament shall only be held in a room at the
17    licensed premises designated by the eligible organization for
18    the conduct of card games.
19        (12)    Players in the tournament shall be limited to the
20    members of the eligible organization.
21        (13)    Players shall be at least 21 years of age.
22        (14)    The tournament may not provide a direct financial
23    benefit to the eligible organization or other person, except
24    winning players in the tournament.
25        (15)    The value of all prizes awarded for the tournament,
26    except for a Texas Hold'em tournament, may not exceed $200.
27        (16)    If the tournament involves Texas Hold'em, all of
28    the following shall apply:
29               (i)   The payment of an entry fee or other
30        consideration for participating is prohibited.

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 1                   (ii)   The value of all prizes awarded to an
 2            individual winner of the tournament or contest at a
 3            single table may not exceed $200 each day.
 4            (17)    The eligible organization shall ensure that
 5      reasonable accommodations are made for players with
 6      disabilities.
 7      (b)   Required postings.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), the
 8   eligible organization shall prominently post the tournament
 9   rules on a sign in the tournament playing room at least 24 hours
10   before the tournament begins. The sign shall be at least 30
11   inches by 30 inches, and the rules shall be easily readable. The
12   sign shall include all of the following:
13            (1)    In permanent letters three inches high, the words
14      "Tournament Rules."
15            (2)    Card game or games to be played in the tournament
16      and the rules of each card game.
17            (3)    The prize for each card game and tournament.
18            (4)    How winners will be determined.
19            (5)    Any other tournament rules.
20      (c)   Prizes.--Cash or merchandise prizes may be awarded for a
21   tournament subject to the following:
22            (1)    The eligible organization shall distribute the
23      prizes awarded on the day the prizes are won.
24            (2)    Donated or merchandise prizes shall not be
25      repurchased by the eligible organization.
26            (3)    Only prizes that can be won shall be displayed in
27      the room where the tournament is held.
28      Section 2.      This act shall take effect immediately.




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