{"id":312206,"date":"2026-10-22T21:22:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T21:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/312206\/"},"modified":"2026-10-22T21:22:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T21:22:07","slug":"online-raffle-sales-become-legal-in-pennsylvania-after-years-of-delays-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/312206\/","title":{"rendered":"Online raffle sales become legal in Pennsylvania after years of delays | Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bill into law Thursday allowing nonprofits to sell raffle tickets online<\/a>. Pennsylvania representatives approved the bill 199-4 in the House on Wednesday after years of legislative discussion and delays. The bill received unanimous support from the Senate.<\/p>\n

In Pennsylvania, volunteer fire departments, veterans organizations and nonprofits can hold raffles and 50\/50 drawings to raise money for operations and charitable donations. However, there are restrictions on these raffles, including how many prizes can be raffled off weekly and, before Thursday, how tickets could be sold.<\/p>\n

For Lancaster Snow Angels, a nonprofit that shovels walks and mows lawns for people in need, the regulations resulted in a $20,000 loss. In July, a federal agent asked the group to refund online ticket sales<\/a>. Jen Jarvis, one of the group\u2019s founders, said she wasn\u2019t aware of the law when she received a license to hold raffles.<\/p>\n

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\n \"The
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The renewed possibility of online ticket sales will open up more doors for Snow Angels, Jarvis said. Since July, the group has been selling raffle tickets in-person or through mailed cash or check, which means fewer transactions. Now, Jarvis will be able to purchase more equipment, such as hitches for snowblowers, cover volunteer liability insurance and keep up with the demand for over 150 bags of salt every winter.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor nonprofits, not just our own, but for all nonprofits in the state of Pennsylvania, especially those in Lancaster County, I’m hopeful, emotional and proud to see SB416 reach this point,\u201d Jarvis said. \u201cFor Lancaster Snow Angels, this fight has always been about the people who depend on us, our seniors, veterans and community members with special needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jennifer<\/p>\n

Jennifer Jarvis, cofounder of Lancaster Snow Angels, speaking in Harrisburg on Monday, Sep. 28, 2026, about the importance of legalizing online raffle ticket sales. Photo courtesy of Sen. Devlin Robinson’s office.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nicholas GARTLEY<\/p>\n

The new law takes effect in 60 days. Jarvis said she plans to relaunch online raffle sales as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Gebhard’s
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The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passed a bill Monday that would allow organizations to r\u2026<\/p>\n

The bill was originally introduced in 2023 but lawmakers failed to vote on it before the 2023-24 legislative session ended. In December 2024, Allegheny County Sen. Devlin Robinson announced his plan to reintroduce the bill. The bill passed through Senate committees for five months before landing in the House Gaming Oversight Committee where it sat without action for over a year.<\/p>\n

In late September, the bill finally left the committee along with five other bills updating the Small Games of Chance Act which regulates raffles. A provision in one of those bills, introduced by Sen. Chris Gebhard, whose 48th District includes a portion of northern Lancaster County, doubled the weekly raffle prize limit<\/a> from $35,000 to $60,000. The provision was included in the bill Shapiro signed Thursday.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Can
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Jarvis spoke in Harrisburg on Sep. 28 along with other nonprofit leaders who also refunded money raised by online raffle ticket sales as part of a press conference on the importance of the legislation.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeaking up alongside other organizations reminded me a lot of why advocacy matters,\u201d Jarvis said. \u201cI’m grateful to everyone who listened and helped move this forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

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