Applications for licenses for bingo and small games of chance are now being accepted online by the Berks County treasurer’s office.
Applications submitted online are immediately received, eliminating sole reliance on the postal service to deliver the applications, county officials said in an announcement.
“The ability to apply and pay online is a significant convenience for organizations that need bingo or small games of chance licenses,” Treasurer Mitchell R. Darcourt said in the release. “While the statutory requirements for obtaining these licenses have not changed, applicants now have another option for submitting their information and completing the process.”
To apply online, applicants will create a secure user-specific account. Once registered, organizations can review documentation currently on file with the treasurer’s office and and update information through the system.
New applicants will be able to upload required documentation directly into the system, establishing an electronic history that can be used for future applications.
The system also prompts applicants to provide required information before an application can be submitted, helping reduce delays caused by missing information, officials said.
Applicants can choose to pay electronically or submit payment by check or money order. Electronic payments are subject to a processing fee. When an applicant pays electronically, the funds are placed on hold until the application is approved. If an application is rejected, the hold on the funds will be released.
Information on the process, application fees and online processing fees can be found at the treasurer’s webpage.
Those who submit their applications online but choose to pay by check or money order are advised that the application will not be finalized until the treasurer’s office completes its review and receives payment.
The online submission can expedite the treasurer’s review and result in a quicker turnaround for issuing licenses, but all statutory requirements and timelines remain in effect, officials said. In particular, the required 30-day window for license requests must still be followed.