Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Senator Patrick Gallivan are jointly proposing a modernization of New York’s gaming laws to make life easier for charitable and service organizations that use raffles and similar events to fund their operations.
Hawley says organizations like Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary Clubs, churches and fire departments have run into trouble with the law, sometimes finding their fundraisers were illegal.
Hawley wants to allow them to advertise raffles, make sales online, allow use of credit or debit cards instead of cash only, and get rid of other restrictions he says no longer make sense.