Griffo urges New York State Gaming Commission to formulate Charitable Gaming Act regulations immediately

With the holiday season quickly approaching, New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-I-C-Rome, is calling on the New York State Gaming Commission to take immediate action to help many of the charitable organizations and groups in the 47th Senate District and beyond.

In a letter to Commission Chairman Barry Sample, Sen. Griffo urged the agency to quickly promulgate important regulations that would allow non-profit charitable groups to sell raffle tickets online and accept debit/credit card payments for fundraising activities. Such action is allowable in the state as a result of the Charitable Gaming Act, which was cosponsored by Sen. Griffo and signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2017. However, the Commission has yet to formulate regulations. 

“Despite recent contact and conversations with the Commission and executive branch, it remains frustrating, disappointing and unacceptable that, two years later, the necessary regulations required for the Act to go into effect have not yet been promulgated,” Sen. Griffo wrote. “Many volunteer groups and charitable organizations depend on raising funds through raffles and similar charitable events, especially during this holiday season under pandemic conditions. By permitting raffle tickets to be purchased online or by using debit and credit cards, as the Charitable Gaming Act would allow, these fundraisers become even more successful and raise even more money on the behalf of children, the elderly, the disabled and others in need.”

The full text of Sen. Griffo’s letter is below:

Nov. 6, 2020

Barry Sample
Chairman
New York State Gaming Commission
One Broadway Center
Schenectady, New York 12301-7500

Dear Chairman Sample:

In 2017, Gov. Cuomo signed into law the Charitable Gaming Act. This law was to go into effect in 2018, pursuant to the formulation of regulations by the New York State Gaming Commission. Despite recent contact and conversations with the Commission and executive branch, it remains frustrating, disappointing and unacceptable that, two years later, the necessary regulations required for the Act to go into effect have not yet been promulgated.  

Many volunteer groups and charitable organizations depend on raising funds through raffles and similar charitable events, especially during this holiday season under pandemic conditions. By permitting raffle tickets to be purchased online or by using debit and credit cards, as the Charitable Gaming Act would allow, these fundraisers become even more successful and raise even more money on the behalf of children, the elderly, the disabled and others in need.

Unfortunately, due to the Commission’s inability to formulate these important regulations in a timely fashion, the burdensome restrictions concerning how charity raffle tickets can be purchased remain in place. This in turn makes it harder for these organizations to fund important programs and to help our communities and those in need.

I urge you to promulgate the necessary regulations immediately. We are fortunate enough to live in very giving communities, and if someone desires to donate their money through local raffle fundraisers to help people in need, then New York State should not get in the way of their generosity by making it more cumbersome to contribute to these charities.

Sincerely,

Joseph A. Griffo
New York State Senator, 47th Senate District