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Small games lead to big troubles
Sunday News
Jun 07, 2009 00:15 EST
Christiana
By JEANNETTE SCOTT, Staff Writer
The Christiana American Legion will close for 15 days in July, the result of its fourth violation of a state law governing small games of chance.

Benner-Shoff Post No. 865 was cited Aug. 7, 2008, for "failure to maintain complete and truthful records" of its small games of chance.

The Christiana post was also operating games on club premises at the same time as another organization, resulting in the charge that it "possessed or operated gambling devices … or permitted gambling or lotteries, pool-selling, and/or bookmaking on licensed premises."

Under the Pennsylvania Local Options Small Games of Chance Act, veterans clubs, fire companies, Lions clubs and similar groups have been allowed to operate small lotteries for charitable work in their communities.

The Small Games of Chance law is enforced by the Liquor Control Board.

The case has not been adjudicated.

Officer John E. Mathias, an enforcement supervisor with Liquor Control Enforcement, said the Christiana incidents were discovered in May 2008, during a follow-up check by LCE officers. "We tell them that we'll be coming back, especially the ones that are in rough shape," said Mathias of noncompliant organizations.

An administrative law judge fined the Christiana club $2,000 and suspended its liquor license for 15 days after the latest citation.

Legion post Commander Scott Hammond said the club will shut down from July 6-21 "for previous infractions of the liquor code."

"They certainly can stay open to serve Cokes and sandwiches if they want to, but that's their prerogative," said Francesca Chapman, spokeswoman for the LCB.

The Christiana post's latest violations happened even as the Legion post was under investigation for its third citation under the games-of-chance law.

The post was convicted Aug. 27, 2008, on the record-keeping charge and for exceeding payout limits in January, 2008. It was fined $1,500.

The post had violations in 2004 and 2006.

Violations are a statewide problem, said Mathias.

"I've got lots, lots worse than that, especially in Franklin County," Mathias said. Some clubs exceed the payout limit by $100,000 or more, he said.

Organizations must use all profits from small games of chance to benefit the community. They may not use the profits for operating expenses.

Some clubs are already using the money for operating expenses and that is why they're failing to keep accurate records, Mathias explained.

"We can usually narrow it down enough to determine about how much money they should be sitting on," he said. "Thousands and thousands of dollars are unaccounted for."

Nine bills in the state House and one in the state Senate have been introduced this year to loosen the small games of chance law. None have come to the floor for a vote.

Last year, former Sen. Gibson E. Armstrong (R-13th District) held a similar bill — House Bill 169 — in the Senate Appropriations Committee because he opposed gambling. That bill expired at the end of the assembly's session.



Jeannette Scott is a Sunday News staff writer. Contact her at jscott@lnpnews.com or at 291-8689.

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QUOTE (Lancaster Online @ Jun 7 2009, 12:15 AM)
The Christiana American Legion will close for 15 days in July, the result of its fourth violation of a state law governing small games of chance.

Benner-Shoff Post No. 865 was cited Aug. 7, 2008, for "failure to maintain complete and truthful records" of its small games of chance.

Lucky for us, our progressive and orderly state has many well-trained professional enforcement officials roving the countryside keeping these gambling enterprises in check .... making sure EVERYONE follows the gambing rules.

Four separate infractions in Christiana? Either those sick and corrupt outlaws operating that sorry American Legion hall straighten up and follow the "rules", or they should be placed in jail for a long while to learn who's boss. Just because many of these recently labeled criminals are honored war veterans they should know better than to be breaking these rules .... because here in Pennsylvania NOBODY is above the law (thank goodness).

Even our Governor (a lawyer by trade) was caught not reporting income from gambling winnings ... maybe it was these tough investigators who even nailed him. Good job, even the top dog isn't safe from their prying eyes. We haven't heard yet what the Governor's punishment is - but I'm sure it's going to be a tough one, too. Maybe the capital will be shut down for 15 days (I hope the state won't come to a grinding halt).

Keep up the good work, boys ..... I hope you all continue to get raises and even more benefits for an important job well-done. Our state is a far better place due to your selfless efforts. Imagine what a wild and terrible environment the citizens of Christiana would be forced to endure if these rules were not so aggressively enforced? I don't even want to think about it, it would be too terrible to even consider, an unimaginable nightmare of epic proportions .........
ReaganRepublican
QUOTE (ReaganRepublican @ Jun 7 2009, 07:56 AM)
Lucky for us, our progressive and orderly state has many well-trained professional enforcement officials roving the countryside keeping these gambling enterprises in check .... making sure EVERYONE follows the gambing rules.


I guess our conservative legislature shouldn't have pased those rules and shouldn't be blocking the bills to loosen the reigns on those restrictions.
StrobeSML
These "small games of chance" haven't been legalized yet?

I am shocked.

I thought our State Senators took care of the good ol' boys.
Artie See
QUOTE (StrobeSML @ Jun 7 2009, 09:36 AM)
I guess our conservative legislature shouldn't have pased those rules and shouldn't be blocking the bills to loosen the reigns on those restrictions.

Conservative legislature? Only in their own minds.

The sliding scale of a politicians' governing philosophy is actually determined by the caliber of laws they pass and what the cost of these laws are to society .... and not the adjectives they place on their brochures when they're up for reelection.

QUOTE (Artie See @ Jun 7 2009, 10:57 AM)
These "small games of chance" haven't been legalized yet?

I am shocked.

I thought our State Senators took care of the good ol' boys.

Some groups of good ole' boys are more important than others - especially the ones who work for the state .......
ReaganRepublican
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