A Gap in Pennsylvania Law Has Put Fire Companies and County Treasurers at Odds over Online Raffles. They’re Asking Lawmakers for an Update.
Fire companies say online raffles are needed to cover rising gear and fuel costs as lawmakers weigh changes to the state games-of-chance law.
- Centre County Treasurer Colleen Kennedy warned Howard and Centre Hall Volunteer Fire Companies that hosting online raffles could result in revoked gaming licenses, citing Pennsylvania's outdated regulatory framework.
- The Local Option Small Games of Chance Act requires raffle participants to be 18 or older and pay in person—a framework drafted before modern electronic banking and online fundraising platforms emerged.
- Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna stated his office has no plans to prosecute fire companies for online raffles, calling modernization legislation a "no-brainer." State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff agreed they should have the legal option with proper accounting.
- Kennedy stated she must enforce rules as written, though reluctant to penalize departments trying to raise funds. Howard Fire Company President Bill Nearhoof decided to continue online raffles after consulting members, despite the license revocation threat.
- Policymakers have introduced bills to modernize small games of chance laws, but efforts stalled in the divided Pennsylvania legislature. The regulatory gap leaves fire companies navigating a framework designed before electronic commerce became routine.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
explorejeffersonpa.comA gap in Pennsylvania law has put fire companies and county treasurers at odds over online raffles
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service...
Gap in Pennsylvania law has put fire companies, county treasurers at odds over online raffles
Centre County’s chief financial officer has warned fire companies that host online raffles that their gaming licenses could be revoked, a serious issue that could force them to choose between forgoing needed revenue and risking fines.
Gap in Pa. law puts fire companies, county treasurers at odds over online raffles
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from north-central PA, at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown.
A gap in Pennsylvania law has put fire companies and county treasurers at odds over online raffles. They’re asking lawmakers for an update.
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from north-central PA, at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown. BELLEFONTE — Centre County’s chief financial officer has warned [...]
PA fire companies, counties push to modernize state gaming law
BELLEFONTE — Centre County’s chief financial officer has warned fire companies that host online raffles that their gaming licenses could be revoked, a serious issue that could force them to choose between forgoing needed revenue and risking fines. The recent notices from Treasurer Colleen Kennedy to at least two departments — Howard and Centre Hall Volunteer Fire Companies — stem from a gap in Pennsylvania’s law covering small games of chance, w…
Fire companies, county treasurers at odds over online raffles
BELLEFONTE — Centre County’s chief financial officer has warned fire companies that host online raffles that their gaming licenses could be revoked, a serious issue that could force them to choose between forgoing needed revenue and risking fines.
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