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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Gabrielle
A. Prutisto |
State Rep. Thomas
Caltagirone |
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Caltagirone seeking to legalize sports pool betting
HARRISBURG, May 25 – State Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, has reintroduced a bill that would legalize sports pool betting in Pennsylvania.
Caltagirone said the legislation would add sports pool betting to the list of permissible small games of chance operated by nonprofit associations for the promotion of charitable and civic purposes. Small games of chance currently permitted by law include: weekly and daily drawings, raffles, punchboards and pull-tabs.
"Sports pool betting" would be defined as wagering money on the outcome of an athletic contest or other sporting event, including but not limited to amateur and professional baseball, football, basketball, hockey and soccer.
“For churches, schools and many other nonprofit organizations, small games of chance are important sources of revenue,” Caltagirone said.” I’ve designed this legislation to make it easier for them to raise money by adding sports pool betting.”
Caltagirone said eligible organizations would include charitable, religious, fraternal and veterans’ organizations, as well as clubs, civic and service organizations like fire companies.
The proceeds, he said, could only be used for public interest purposes, such as performing human services; promoting the welfare of senior citizens, the poor, infirm or distressed; combating juvenile delinquency; advancing the spiritual, mental, social and physical improvement of young men and women; or fostering worthy public works.
Currently, the only legal forms of gambling in Pennsylvania are horse racing, the state lottery, bingo, small games of chance and slots.
For further information on this bill, contact Caltagirone's constituent service office at 610-376-1529.
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