What's happening
This bill allows organizations to be licensed to hold games of chance on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day in New York.
Why it matters
Expands fundraising opportunities for nonprofits and charitable organizations. by allowing them to hold licensed games of chance on two previously restricted days, potentially increasing revenue for their causes.
Removes religious and cultural restrictions from state law. , reflecting a shift toward greater separation of church and state and increased accommodation for diverse community practices and needs.
May lead to changes in local community activity on major holidays. , as organizations could now host events or fundraisers that attract participants on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, days that were previously off-limits.
Could prompt debate over commercialization and social norms. on traditionally significant religious holidays, raising questions about balancing respect for tradition with organizational and fundraising flexibility.
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Who cares
Authorized organizations conducting games of chance
The bill would remove the ban on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day games and eliminate the noon-to-midnight restriction on Sunday games.
Municipal licensing officials
They would retain responsibility for issuing licenses that permit Sunday games under a local law or ordinance, without the holiday ban or Sunday hours restriction.
Municipal governing bodies
Their local laws or ordinances would remain necessary to authorize Sunday games, including games on Easter Sunday.
Headline styles
Permit Holiday Games of Chance
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Permit Holiday Charity Games
In Assembly Committee · Racing And Wagering · Sponsor Billy Jones
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2932
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 30, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LITTLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to allowing an authorized organization to receive a license to hold a game of chance on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 195 of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter 461 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
§ 195. Sunday; conduct of games on. Except as provided in section one hundred ninety-five-b of this article, no games of chance shall be conducted under any license issued under this article on the first day of the week, commonly known and designated as Sunday, unless it shall be otherwise provided in the license issued for the conducting thereof, pursuant to the provisions of a local law or an ordinance duly adopted by the governing body of the municipality wherein the license is issued, authorizing the conduct of games of chance under this article on that day [only between the hours of noon and midnight. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section no games of chance shall be conducted on Easter Sunday or Christmas Day].
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03240-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to allowing an authorized organization to receive a license to hold a game of chance on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day
Purpose
Allows authorized organizations to hold a game of chance on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.
Summary of provisions
Charitable organizations often use games of chance, such as Pull Tabs/Bell Jars, as a means to fundraise. Often times, these charitable organizations hold Easter Sunday and Christmas Day events, such as holi- day lunches, where they use these games of chance as a fun way of fundraising for their cause.
Justification
Charitable organizations often use games of chance, such as Pull Tabs/Bell Jars, as a means to fundraise. Often times, these charitable organizations hold Easter Sunday and Christmas Day events, such as holi- day lunches, where they use these games of chance as a fun way of fundraising for their cause.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.8344/A.10401 - Senate & Assembly Racing & Wagering Committees
Fiscal implications
None to State and Local.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.