TodayGambling bill could help charities
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Article RatingHARRISBURG (AP) — Gambling is a competitive business, even among private clubs and nonprofit groups.
For years, small games of chance have been one of the main ways some charitable groups have raised money. For example, the American Legion Post in Mechanicsburg runs a game in which members can buy tickets and match them against games on a card. The game resembles a scratch-off ticket.
Raising payout limit
Under the current law, the American Legion can pay out $5,000 a week in winnings. Once that threshold is met, that’s it. With about 4,000 members, that threshold generally is quickly hit by the group.
“Most of the local clubs could go through $5,000 a day,” said Rhonda Johnston, manager of American Legion Post 109 in Mechanicsburg.
That could change if a bill introduced this month by State Rep. Ron Marscio, R-Lower Paxton Township, is successful. Marsico’s bill would, among other things, raise the payout limit on small games of chance from $5,000 a week to $20,000 a week.
The American Legion in Mechanicsburg, which donates its money to the Lebanon VA Medical Center, would welcome the higher payouts.
“The more money they let us make, the more money goes out to charities,” said Joe Cekovich, president of Post 109.
Slot machines
Local clubs and nonprofits also could get another boost from a separate bill that Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, plans to introduce. That bill would allow clubs with state liquor licenses to operate slot machines.
Under Caltagirone’s proposal, the clubs could have up to five slot machines. The maximum payout on any machine would be $1,000. The clubs would have to pay $100 to get a slots license.
“You are not going to stop gambling in this state,” Caltagirone said. “We legalized it. Why can’t we do something to help the clubs?”
Steven Ketterer, chief of the Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services, was intrigued by Caltagirone’s proposal. The nonprofit group is one of 213 organizations with such a license in the midstate counties of Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, Perry and York.
“We’re looking for alternative revenue,” he said. “Anything we could do to entice renters to rent the hall. The possibility of having five slot machines? We would encourage that.”
The Pennsylvania Tavern Association would welcome that, too, just as long as for-profit bars also are allowed slots.
“Everyone would be able to increase their profits,” said Amy Christie, executive director of the association. “The retail licenses, nonprofit and private clubs would not be in constant competition. We all would be a lot happier.”
