Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi of Utica today issued this statement, following the Governor’s signing of A.6095-A, ‘The Charitable Gaming Act of 2017,’ a bill he sponsored allowing charities in New York State to accept credit or debit cards as payment for fund-raising raffles, as well as to allow the purchase of raffle tickets online:
“The signing of The Charitable Gaming Act finally takes charitable fundraising in New York from the Model T era to the 21st Century. Over the past several years, representatives of a number of charities here in the Mohawk Valley have talked to me about the major inconvenience of only being allowed to sell tickets at their offices, and to only accept cash or checks for payment. These fund-raisers are often the lifeline for vital organizations like The Children’s Miracle Network; Sitrin Health Care; or Hospice, among others. At a time when families have so many constraints on their time, allowing people to buy raffle tickets using credit or debit cards will significantly boost fundraising for vital programs and services that help many in our community.”