Gaming Committee Moves Payne Bill to Consolidate Small Games of Chance Oversight
HARRISBURG – The House Gaming Oversight Committee today advanced legislation, authored by committee chairman Rep. John Payne (R-Dauphin), which would move all small games of chance oversight to one government agency.
House Bill 1891 would transfer the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue’s oversight responsibilities under the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
“The Department of Revenue is currently tasked with gaming responsibilities that are really not within the scope of the department’s purpose, which is the collection of taxes,” Payne explained. “While it may have been necessary to provide the department with these tasks when the law was originally written, I believe efficient and comprehensive oversight could be achieved if the Gaming Control Board were to serve as the sole regulatory body for all gaming matters.”
The Department of Revenue functions that would be transferred to the PGCB under Payne’s legislation include registering small games manufacturers, licensing small games distributors, reviewing and approving small games, receiving reports from clubs regarding small games proceeds, performing random audits of clubs and establishes regulations regarding the manufacture of small games, as well as recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
Additionally, House Bill 1891 would provide the PGCB with the authority to approve new small games that fall within certain statutory parameters, thus eliminating the need for the General Assembly to pass legislation whenever a new small game is created.
“The General Assembly has a responsibility to create and improve laws and solve some of Pennsylvania’s greatest challenges,” Payne said. “There is no need to further complicate the legislative process with bills for every new small game of chance that comes along when a regulatory body with extensive knowledge of the industry could responsibly implement new games.”
Under the bill, registered small games manufacturers would be able to apply to the PGCB for approval of new small games if the game is designed to raise funds for public interest purposes, its maximum cost to play is $10, it does not use any mechanical or electrical device (other than a dispensing machine or a passive selection device) and it is not a sports wagering or a table game.
“The gaming board has efficiently and responsibly enforced the Commonwealth’s laws related to casino gaming, and I believe it will provide the same level efficiency in the regulation of small games of chance if given the opportunity.”
House Bill 1891 was approved unanimously by the committee and now awaits consideration by the full House.
Representative John Payne
106th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Abbey Haslam
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