Pennsylvania SB 450: 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 preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in games of chance, providing for payment and further providing for prize limits, for sales limited, for distributor licenses, for registration of manufacturers and for regulations of department; in club licensees, further providing for club licensee and for distribution of proceeds; in enforcement, further providing for revocation of licenses and for local option and repealing provisions relating to advertising; in tavern gaming, further providing for licenses, for application, for approval, for prize limits, for distribution of net revenue, for tavern games tax, for invoice, for reports and for enforcement.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 930
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 450
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ROBINSON, BARTOLOTTA, COSTA, MILLER, LANGERHOLC
AND STEFANO, JUNE 9, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
JUNE 9, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156),
entitled "An act providing for the licensing of eligible
organizations to conduct games of chance, for the licensing
of persons to distribute games of chance, for the
registration of manufacturers of games of chance, and for
suspensions and revocations of licenses and permits;
requiring records; providing for local referendum by
electorate; and prescribing penalties," in preliminary
provisions, further providing for definitions; in games of
chance, providing for payment and further providing for prize
limits, for sales limited, for distributor licenses, for
registration of manufacturers and for regulations of
department; in club licensees, further providing for club
licensee and for distribution of proceeds; in enforcement,
further providing for revocation of licenses and for local
option and repealing provisions relating to advertising; in
tavern gaming, further providing for licenses, for
application, for approval, for prize limits, for distribution
of net revenue, for tavern games tax, for invoice, for
reports and for enforcement.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definitions of "games of chance," "passive
selection device" and "tavern games" in section 103 of the act
of December 19, 1988 (P.L.1262, No.156), known as the Local
Option Small Games of Chance Act, are amended and the section is
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amended by adding definitions to read:
Section 103. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall,
except as provided under section 902, have the meanings given to
them in this section unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
* * *
"Electronic pull-tab." An electronic facsimile of a paper
pull-tab that is played on an electronic pull-tab device and
purchased from a licensed distributor.
"Electronic pull-tab device." A hand-held portable
electronic passive device, including, but not limited to, a cell
phone or tablet, owned by the individual playing an electronic
pull-tab game and to which the following apply:
(1) The device must access an electronic pull-tab
software application from the licensee that can only be
played on-site at the licensee's location through a router or
similar computer hardware that links the device so that
electronic pull-tabs can be viewed and played.
(2) The device allows for payment via a player's
personal bank account through an automated clearing house
electronic funds-transfer system , but does not allow the use
of coins, currency or tokens to activate credits.
(3) The device requires a player to activate or open
each electronic pull-tab ticket.
(4) The device does not determine the outcome of an
electronic pull-tab game, but is merely a device used to view
electronic pull-tabs that are provided randomly to the player
the same as a paper pull-tab, except in an electronic format.
(5) The device maintains credit play accumulated that
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may be applied to games in play or redeemed through a
player's personal bank account through an automated clearing
house electronic funds-transfer system upon termination of
play.
(6) The device may incorporate an amusement feature as
part of the game and may award a prize or other benefit for
that feature. The device may not require additional
consideration.
This definition shall not be construed to authorize any other
form of gambling currently prohibited under any provision of 18
Pa.C.S. (relating to crimes and offenses) or authorized under 4
Pa.C.S. (relating to amusements).
* * *
"Games of chance." Punchboards, daily drawings, weekly
drawings, 50/50 drawings, raffles, tavern games, pools, race
night [games and pull-tabs] games, pull-tabs and electronic
pull-tabs, as defined in this act, provided that no such game
shall be played by or with the assistance of any mechanical or
electrical devices or media other than [a] an electronic pull-
tab device, dispensing machine or passive selection device,
including an electronic pull-tab, and further provided that the
particular chance taken by any person in any such game shall not
be made contingent upon any other occurrence or the winning of
any other contest, but shall be determined solely at the
discretion of the purchaser. This definition shall not be
construed to authorize any other form of gambling currently
prohibited under any provision of 18 Pa.C.S. (relating to crimes
and offenses) or authorized under 4 Pa.C.S. (relating to
amusements). Nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize
games commonly known as "slot machine