HB 962 — An Act amending the act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156), known as the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act, in games of chance, providing for games of chance operations.

PRINTER'S NO.   1039

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 962
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY WARNER, COOK, GROVE, HAMM, KEPHART, KUTZ, METZGAR,
        PICKETT, REICHARD, ROWE, SMITH, TWARDZIK AND WATRO,
        MARCH 19, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, MARCH 19, 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," in games of chance,
 9      providing for games of chance operations.
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 section to read:
15   Section 302.1.    Games of chance operations.
16      (a)   Raffles and drawings.--Virtual sales of games of chance
17   shall be conducted as follows:
18            (1)   An eligible organization may accept electronic
19      payment via credit card, debit card, mobile payment service
20      or other electronic payment method in accordance with
21      subsection (b).
 1            (2)   An eligible organization may only use an Internet-
 2      based conferencing software application in the conduct of the
 3      game of chance limited to the reveal of the winner of the
 4      game of chance.
 5            (3)   The reveal of the winner of the game of chance shall
 6      not use or display animation in identifying the winner.
 7            (4)   The reveal of the winner of the game of chance shall
 8      not use or display moving or still images in identifying the
 9      winner.
10            (5)   The reveal of the winner of the game of chance shall
11      not use, make or display a graphic presentation in
12      identifying the winner.
13            (6)   The reveal of the winner of the game of chance shall
14      not use or be completed with the aid of a slot machine,
15      hybrid slot machine or skill slot machine as defined in 4
16      Pa.C.S. § 1103 (relating to definitions).
17            (7)   The reveal of the winner of the game of chance shall
18      not use or be completed with the aid of a video gaming
19      terminal as defined in 4 Pa.C.S. § 3102 (relating to
20      definitions).
21            (8)   The reveal of the winner of the game of chance shall
22      not use or be completed with the aid of an electronic video
23      monitor or a simulated gambling program as defined in 18
24      Pa.C.S. § 5513(f) (relating to gambling devices, gambling,
25      etc.).
26      (b)   Verification requirements.--In order to use a mobile
27   payment service under subsection (a)(1) for the conduct or
28   operation of the game of chance, an eligible organization shall
29   take all of the following actions:
30            (1)   Employ a mechanism to detect the physical location

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 1      of a participant who buys a ticket for the game of chance and
 2      block an individual located outside of this Commonwealth from
 3      participating in the game of chance. The eligible
 4      organization may not accept payment from an individual
 5      located outside of this Commonwealth.
 6            (2)   Employ a mechanism to verify a participant's
 7      identity and record the document number of the participant's
 8      government-issued credential or employ any other methodology
 9      for remote, multisourced identity authentication, including
10      the use of a third-party or government database.
11            (3)   Employ a mechanism to verify that a participant is
12      at least 18 years of age and block an individual under 18
13      years of age from participating in the game of chance. The
14      eligible organization may not accept payment from an
15      individual under 18 years of age.
16            (4)   Require a participant to affirm that the information
17      provided by the participant under this subsection is
18      accurate.
19            (5)   Record a participant's acknowledgment that the
20      information provided by the participant under this subsection
21      is accurate.
22            (6)   Verify that the actions do not violate 31 U.S.C. Ch.
23      53 Subch. IV (relating to prohibition on funding of unlawful
24      Internet gambling).
25      (c)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
26   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
27   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
28      "Internet-based conferencing software application."      Any of
29   the following:
30            (1)   A software application that allows for the

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 1      transmission of audio and visual communications between users
 2      over the Internet, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype or
 3      an equivalent application.
 4          (2)   A social networking application that allows for the
 5      transmission of audio and visual communications between users
 6      over the Internet, including Facebook Live or Periscope.
 7      "Mobile payment service."    A service in which a money payment
 8   is made electronically through a money transfer service,
 9   including Venmo, PayPal, Cash App or an equivalent money
10   transfer service.
11      Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.




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