ASSEMBLY TOURISM, GAMING AND THE ARTS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4297

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  march 8, 2021

      The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4297.

      As amended, this bill permits the conduct of bingos and raffles remotely and permits the online sale of tickets for all bingos and raffles.

      This bill permits the conduct of bingos and raffles remotely. The bill directs the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission to adopt regulations permitting the conduct of raffles remotely using communication technology, to the extent its use is not inconsistent with the New Jersey Constitution. The control commission must approve the technology prior to use by an eligible organization. A licensee conducting a raffle remotely is required to verify that the physical location of each participant, irrespective of the location of any server or intermediate routing of electronic data, is within a municipality that has authorized the conduct of bingos and raffles. The bill deems the location of the person conducting the game to be the licensed premises. The bill is not applicable to raffles conducted at large sporting venues.

      Under current law, eligible organizations include veterans organizations or associations, churches or religious congregations and organizations, charitable, educational and fraternal organizations, civic and service clubs, senior citizen associations and clubs, and volunteer fire companies, first aid, and rescue squads.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  remove a requirement of the licensee of a bingo, lotto, or raffle to verify the physical location of participants in certain municipalities;

      (2)  allow an organization conducting a bingo, lotto, or raffle to sell tickets to online purchasers, of which the sale of the tickets would be deemed to take place at the location of the event and one member of the organization or third-party vendor conducting the event would need to be present at the location for the sale to be conducted;

      (3)   require the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission to adopt regulations to permit the supervision of bingos, lottos, or raffles conducted remotely;

      (4)  clarify that the conduct of bingos, lottos, or raffles may not violate any applicable federal law or regulation, specifically the use of the United States Postal Service to send or receive tickets; and

      (5)   clarify that only certain raffles that can practically be conducted remotely may take place.