Small Games of Chance

Note: The small games of chance reporting deadline has been delayed to Feb. 1, 2014.

The Pennsylvania Local Option Small Games of Chance Act authorizes certain eligible organizations to conduct limited types of gambling. The types of gambling authorized by the act are punchboards, pull-tabs, raffles (including special permit raffles), daily drawings and weekly drawings.

The Department of Revenue is charged with several responsibilities under the act, as follows:

1. Registration of games of chance manufacturers.
2. Reviewing and approving pull-tab games and punchboards for use in the commonwealth.
3. Licensing of distributors to sell games of chance for use in the commonwealth.
4. Receipt and retention of games of chance reports from licensed eligible organizations.
5. Limited regulatory authority related to manufacturer registration, distributor licensing, games of chance, and games of chance records and reports.

For clarification of legal small games of chance and examples of illegal gambling activities in Pennsylvania, review the Legal versus Illegal Tip Sheet

Access Games of Chance Electronic Reporting

Act 2 and Act 184 of 2012 amend the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act. The amendments create new definitions, increase prize limits, add new games, provide additional licensing rules and regulations for organizations, create reporting requirements and amend enforcement provisions.

Questions?

• Questions regarding licensing to conduct small games of chance should be directed to the county treasurer in the county where the organization is located.
• Questions regarding conducting games of chance should be directed to Liquor Control Enforcement at 717-540-7410.
• Questions regarding reporting requirements should be directed to the Department of Revenue at RA-SGOC@pa.gov.