Small Games of Chance License

Organizations that wish to conduct small games of chance, such as raffles, pull-tabs, 50/50 drawings and other games permitted under the Small Games of Chance Act, must be licensed according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Only certain non-profit organizations are permitted to conduct games of chance. Please refer to the Small Games of Chance Act to determine if your organization is eligible under the law to participate.

Please review the instructions and the Small Games of Chance Fact sheet prior to submitting your Small Games of Chance application and payment:

Small Games of Chance Application Checklist
Small Game of Chance Application
Special Raffle Permit Application

Upload Small Games of Chance Application (renewal applications only)
Application must be SIGNED and NOTARIZED prior to submission.
Pay License Fee Online (renewal applications only; MUST be accompanied by application)

First Time Applicants:
- Your eligible organization must be in existence for one year.
- Applications must be mailed or delivered with payment to the Dauphin County Treasurer
- Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation are required with the initial application for all 501(c)3 organizations
- Bylaws and proof of minimum one-year existence are required for all other organizations
- Name and addresses of ALL officers of the organization must be submitted
- Check must be drawn on bank of the eligible organization (no cash, money orders or personal checks)
- Please allow 30 days for processing a first-time application

Renewal Applicants:
- Renewal applications and payments may be submitted online OR mailed to the Dauphin County Treasurer
- Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation are not required unless changes have occurred in the prior year
- Application must be signed by an officer of the organization and witnessed by a notary
- Name and addresses of ALL officers of the organization must be submitted
- There are additional reporting requirements for Clubs that hold a PA liquor license
- Payment must be drawn on bank of eligible organization (no cash, money orders or personal checks)
- Please allow 30 days for processing of renewal application

Applicants with PA Liquor License:

If your annual proceeds are equal to or greater than $20,000, you must report your earnings to the Department of Revenue by February 1 of the following year. A copy of the completed report must accompany your Small Games of Chance application. If your club has proceeds less than $20,000, an affidavit to that effect will be provided by the Treasurer's office for signature by an officer of the club.

There are three types of licenses available to eligible organizations:

Regular License: A regular license is an annual license that runs for one year from the date of issuance. The fee for an annual license is $125.00.
Monthly License: A monthly license is valid for 30 consecutive days. Any game of chance must begin and end within the 30-day period for which the license is issued. Up to 12 monthly licenses may be issued in a calendar year. The fee for a monthly license is $25.00.
Special Raffle Permits: are available to regular and monthly license holders. The special raffle permit authorizes organizations to conduct a raffle that exceeds the normal prize limits applicable to Games of Chance. The fee for a Special Raffle Permit is $25.00.

Additional information can be found at the Department of Revenue website, along with the Pennsylvania State Police website. It is recommended that you consult with your organization’s legal counsel to determine how the Small Games of Chance Act applies to your organization.

Additional Resources and Laws

Club Licenses & Eligible Organizations
Small Games of Chance Act
Small Games of Chance Overview
Raffle Ticket Printing Requirements
Small Games of Chance Fact Sheet
Local Option Small Games of Chance Act Amended

Mailing Address
Dauphin County Treasurer
Small Games of Chance
101 Market Street, Room 105
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Contact
(717) 780-6550
treasurer@dauphincounty.gov