New York S 10479: Permits certain fraternal organizations to conduct charitable gaming by operating electronic bell jar vending machines; repealer

Bill Text

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S10479 Summary:

BILL NOS10479 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORSCARCELLA-SPANTON

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §1, Chap 697 of 2025; amd §§186, 189, 195-c, 195-o & 195-q, rpld §196-c sub 8, Gen Muni L

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Permits certain fraternal organizations to conduct charitable gaming by operating electronic bell jar vending machines.

Go to top S10479 Actions:

BILL NOS10479 

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05/15/2026REFERRED TO RACING, GAMING AND WAGERING

Go to topS10479 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS10479 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS10479 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 10479

 IN SENATE

 May 15, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
 and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Racing, Gaming
 and Wagering

 AN ACT to amend chapter 697 of the laws of 2025, amending the general
 municipal law relating to electronic bell jar games, to amend the
 general municipal law, in relation to permitting certain fraternal
 organizations to conduct charitable gaming by operating electronic
 bell jar vending machines; and to repeal certain provisions of such
 law relating thereto

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Section 1 of chapter 697 of the laws of 2025, amending the
 2 general municipal law relating to electronic bell jar games, as amended
 3 by chapter 4 of the laws of 2026, is amended to read as follows:
 4 Section 1. Legislative findings and purpose. 1. The legislature hereby
 5 finds that:
 6 (a) bell jar games are a popular and profitable fundraising mechanism
 7 for bona fide not-for-profit organizations across the state, generating
 8 millions of dollars in net revenues for charitable purposes every year;
 9 (b) organizations that offer bell jars and other games of chance must
 10 meet strict standards established by the New York state general munici-
 11 pal law and the New York state gaming commission, including receiving a
 12 license to conduct charitable gaming activities; and
 13 (c) while other types of gaming in New York state have continued to
 14 expand and improve, the operation of charitable gaming activities has
 15 largely remained the same over the last several decades.
 16 2. (a) For the aforementioned reasons, the legislature hereby declares
 17 that veteran organizations, fraternal organizations, and volunteer fire
 18 companies licensed to conduct charitable gaming would greatly benefit
 19 from the ability to operate electronic bell jar vending machines, which
 20 display and dispense pre-printed bell jar tickets that have predeter-
 21 mined winners and predetermined values for prizes, in order to help
 22 increase charitable gaming profits across the state and attract more
 23 members to join such organizations; and

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD15880-01-6

 S. 10479 2

 1 (b) Provided further, the legislature also declares that this legis-
 2 lation includes appropriate safeguards to ensure that electronic bell
 3 jar vending machines remain a limited and controlled fundraising tool,
 4 distinct from video lottery terminals or slot machines in design and
 5 function. The machines authorized herein may only be operated by
 6 licensed veteran organizations, fraternal organizations and volunteer
 7 fire companies, are limited pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 6
 8 of section 195-c of the general municipal law in order to prohibit casi-
 9 no-like gaming parlors, and are solely for use by members of such veter-
 10 an organizations, fraternal organizations, and volunteer fire companies.
 11 § 2. Subdivision 23 of section 186 of the general municipal law, as
 12 added by chapter 4 of the laws of 2026, is amended to read as follows:
 13 23. "Veteran organization" means a members-only organization compris-
 14 ing veterans and their family members, where the organization's focus is
 15 on the support of and advocacy for veterans and military service members
 16 [and that is licensed to operate bell jar games as of November thirti-
 17 eth, two thousand twenty-five and shal