This bill amends New York’s General Municipal Law to clarify how raffle tickets may be sold over the internet under the state’s games of chance and raffle licensing rules. It provides that, for legal purposes, an internet raffle ticket sale is deemed to occur on the premises of the authorized organization or authorized games of chance lessor, rather than at the buyer’s location. The bill makes this change in two related sections governing raffle licensing and raffle conduct by authorized organizations.
The practical effect is to align online raffle sales with existing geographic requirements for charitable gaming, which generally limit participation to municipalities and counties tied to the licensed organization. By deeming internet sales to occur at the organization’s premises, the bill appears designed to preserve compliance with local approval and location restrictions while allowing raffle ticket sales to be conducted online. The bill takes effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would amend sections 189 and 190-a of the General Municipal Law, which regulate raffle licensing and the conduct of games of chance by authorized organizations. It does not broadly expand who may conduct raffles, but it changes the legal treatment of internet sales so they are treated as occurring at the organization’s premises. This affects authorized charitable organizations, raffle license holders, and municipalities that approve games of chance, and it may reduce legal uncertainty around online raffle fundraising within the existing regulatory framework.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is available, so there is no documented debate or recorded support/opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill text, the measure appears technical and administrative rather than controversial, with a likely policy goal of modernizing raffle fundraising by accommodating internet sales while preserving local control and geographic limits. The absence of recorded votes or discussion means sentiment cannot be assessed beyond the bill’s apparent neutral, clarifying purpose.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is whether internet raffle sales should be treated as occurring where the organization is located, which could be seen as a legal fiction used to fit online sales into a geographically restricted charitable gaming scheme. Supporters would likely view the bill as a modernization measure that helps nonprofits raise funds more efficiently, while opponents might worry about loosening practical enforcement, expanding online gambling-like activity, or undermining the county and municipal limits that currently govern raffle sales. No specific stakeholders are identified in the provided record.
Allows for licensed organizations to conduct raffles remotely and to advertise such raffles; removes maximum value limitations for prizes; allows remote raffles on Sundays; requires quarterly reporting of raffle results.