Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official source posted by the New York State Senate, fetched 2026-08-11. Nothing is edited or removed. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official source appears here in brackets. The official bill page.
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6351--B
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
March 11, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. ADDABBO, ASHBY, GRIFFO, SCARCELLA-SPANTON, STEC,
WALCZYK -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be
committed to the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee -- reported favorably from said committee and
committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to electronic
bell jar games
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings and purpose. 1. The legislature hereby
finds that:
(a) bell jar games are a popular and profitable fundraising mechanism
for bona fide not-for-profit organizations across the state, generating
millions of dollars in net revenues for charitable purposes every year;
(b) authorized organizations that offer bell jars and other games of
chance must meet strict standards established by the New York state
general municipal law and the New York state gaming commission, includ-
ing receiving a license to conduct charitable gaming activities; and
(c) while other types of gaming in New York state have continued to
expand and improve, the operation of charitable gaming activities has
largely remained the same over the last several decades.
2. (a) For the aforementioned reasons, the legislature hereby declares
that authorized organizations licensed by the New York state gaming
commission to conduct charitable gaming would greatly benefit from the
ability to operate electronic bell jar vending machines, which display
and dispense pre-printed bell jar tickets that have predetermined
winners and predetermined values for prizes, in order to help increase
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10856-03-5
S. 6351--B 2
charitable gaming profits across the state and attract more members to
join such organizations; and
(b) Provided further, the legislature also declares that this legis-
lation includes appropriate safeguards to ensure that electronic bell
jar vending machines remain a limited and controlled fundraising tool,
distinct from video lottery terminals or slot machines in design and
function. The machines authorized herein may only be operated by
licensed and authorized organizations, are limited pursuant to the
provisions of subdivision 6 of section 195-c of the general municipal
law in order to prohibit casino-like gaming parlors, and are primarily
for use by members of such authorized organizations.
§ 2. Subdivision 3-a of section 186 of the general municipal law, as
amended by chapter 531 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as
follows:
3-a. "Bell jars" shall mean and include those games in which a partic-
ipant shall draw a card from a jar, vending machine, INCLUDING AN ELEC-
TRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE, or other suitable device or container
which contains numbers, colors or symbols that are covered and which,
when uncovered, may reveal that a prize shall be awarded on the basis of
a designated winning number, color or symbol or combination of numbers,
colors or symbols. Bell jars shall also include seal cards, coin boards,
event games, and merchandise boards. AN ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING
MACHINE SHALL TRACK THE SALES OF TICKETS AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION AS
REQUIRED BY THE COMMISSION AND REPORT SUCH SALES AND OTHER INFORMATION
TO THE COMMISSION, USE ELECTRONIC FEATURES TO DISPLAY AND DISPENSE PRE-
PRINTED BELL JAR TICKETS, AND MAY INCLUDE AUDIO AND VIDEO FEATURES TO
DISPLAY INFORMATION ABOUT A TICKET BEING DISPENSED, PROVIDED THAT SUCH
FEATURES SHALL NOT AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME.
§ 3. Subdivision 9 of section 188-a of the general municipal law, as
added by chapter 960 of the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:
9. (A) The [board] COMMISSION shall have the power to approve and
establish a standard set of games of chance equipment and shall by its
rules and regulations prescribe the manner in which such equipment is to
be reproduced and distributed to licensed authorized organizations. The
sale or distribution to a licensed authorized organization of any equip-
ment other than that contained in the standard set of games of chance
equipment shall constitute a violation of this section.
(B) AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, NO ELECTRONIC BELL JAR
VENDING MACHINE SHALL BE SOLD, LEASED, DISTRIBUTED, INSTALLED, OR OPER-
ATED BY ANY MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR, OR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION UNTIL
SUCH MACHINE HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION. NO ELECTRONIC BELL
JAR VENDING MACHINE SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION UNLESS THE OPER-
ATION OF THE GAME DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE IS A FINITE PROBABILITY BASIS
OF HAVING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF CHANCES AMONG WHICH THERE IS A
PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF WINNERS THAT PAY A FIXED AND PREDETERMINED
VALUE OF PRIZES, REGARDLESS OF THE SYMBOLS THAT ARE USED OR HOW THOSE
SYMBOLS ARE DISPLAYED ON PRE-PRINTED BELL JAR TICKETS.
(C) THE COMMISSION SHALL PROMULGATE SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS MAY
BE NECESSARY FOR THE APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR
VENDING MACHINE GAMING. THE COMMISSION MAY REVOKE, SUSPEND, OR CONDITION
APPROVAL OF AN ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE. UPON REQUEST FOR
AUTHORIZATION, THE COMMISSION SHALL APPROVE OR DENY SUCH REQUEST WITHIN
THIRTY DAYS. IF THE COMMISSION DENIES SUCH REQUEST FOR APPROVAL, IT
SHALL PROVIDE THE REASONS FOR SUCH DETERMINATION.
S. 6351--B 3
§ 4. Subdivision 3 of section 189 of the general municipal law, as
amended by chapter 337 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as
follows:
3. No authorized organization licensed under the provisions of this
article shall purchase, lease, or receive any supplies or equipment
specifically designed or adapted for use in the conduct of games of
chance from other than a supplier licensed by the [board] COMMISSION or
from another authorized organization. Lease terms and conditions shall
be subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the [board] COMMIS-
SION. The provisions of this article shall not be construed to authorize
or permit an authorized organization to engage in the business of leas-
ing games of chance, supplies, or equipment. Furthermore, no organiza-
tion shall purchase bell jar tickets[,] or deals of bell jar tickets, OR
PURCHASE OR LEASE ANY ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE, from any
other person or organization other than those specifically authorized
under sections one hundred ninety-five-n and one hundred ninety-five-o
of this article.
§ 5. The opening paragraph of section 189-a of the general municipal
law, as amended by chapter 164 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read
as follows:
No person, firm, partnership, corporation or organization, shall sell
or distribute supplies or equipment specifically designed or adapted for
use in conduct of games of chance without having first obtained a
license therefor upon written application made, verified and filed with
the [board] COMMISSION in the form prescribed by the rules and regu-
lations of the [board] COMMISSION. As a part of its determination
concerning the applicant's suitability for licensing as a games of
chance supplier, the [board] COMMISSION shall require the applicant to
furnish to the [board] COMMISSION two sets of fingerprints. Such fing-
erprints shall be submitted to the division of criminal justice services
for a state criminal history record check, as defined in subdivision one
of section three thousand thirty-five of the education law, and may be
submitted to the federal bureau of investigation for a national criminal
history record check. Manufacturers of bell jar tickets shall be consid-
ered suppliers of such equipment. In each such application for a license
under this section shall be stated the name and address of the appli-
cant; the names and addresses of its officers, directors, shareholders
or partners; the amount of gross receipts realized on the sale and
rental of games of chance supplies and equipment to duly licensed
authorized organizations during the last preceding calendar or fiscal
year, and such other information as shall be prescribed by such rules
and regulations. The fee for such license shall be a sum equal to twen-
ty-five dollars plus an amount equal to two per centum of the gross
sales and rentals, if any, of games of chance equipment and supplies to
authorized organizations or authorized games of chance lessors by the
applicant during the preceding calendar year, or fiscal year if the
applicant maintains [his] THEIR accounts on a fiscal year basis;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT FOR MANUFACTURERS OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING
MACHINES, THE FEE FOR SUCH LICENSE SHALL BE ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. No
license granted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be
effective for a period of more than one year.
§ 6. Section 195-c of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter
252 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
§ 195-c. [1.] Persons operating games; equipment; expenses; compen-
sation. 1. No person shall operate any game of chance under any license
issued under this article except a bona fide member of the authorized
S. 6351--B 4
organization to which the license is issued, or a bona fide member of an
organization or association which is an auxiliary to the licensee or a
bona fide member of an organization or association of which such licen-
see is an auxiliary or a bona fide member of an organization or associ-
ation which is affiliated with the licensee by being, with it, auxiliary
to another organization or association. Nothing herein shall be
construed to limit the number of games of chance licensees for whom such
persons may operate games of chance nor to prevent non-members from
assisting the licensee in any activity other than managing or operating
games. No game of chance shall be conducted with any equipment except
such as shall be owned or leased by the authorized organization so
licensed or used without payment of any compensation therefor by the
licensee. However, in no event shall bell jar tickets be transferred
from one authorized organization to another, with or without payment of
any compensation thereof. The head or heads of the authorized organiza-
tion shall upon request certify, under oath, that the persons operating
any game of chance are bona fide members of such authorized organiza-
tion, auxiliary or affiliated organization. Upon request by an officer
or the department any such person involved in such games of chance shall
certify that [he or she has] THEY HAVE no criminal record. No items of
expense shall be incurred or paid in connection with the conducting of
any game of chance pursuant to any license issued under this article
except those that are reasonable and are necessarily expended for games
of chance supplies and equipment, prizes, security personnel, stated
rental if any, bookkeeping or accounting services according to a sched-
ule of compensation prescribed by the [board] COMMISSION, janitorial
services and utility supplies if any, and license fees, and the cost of
bus transportation, if authorized by such clerk or department. No
commission, salary, compensation, reward or recompense shall be paid or
given to any person for the sale or assisting with the sale of raffle
tickets.
2. For the purpose of the sale of tickets for the game of raffle, the
term "operate" shall not include the sale of such tickets by persons of
lineal or collateral consanguinity to members of an authorized organiza-
tion licensed to conduct a raffle.
3. EACH ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY
THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION NINE OF SECTION
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-EIGHT-A OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL DO THE FOLLOWING:
(A) READ A BARCODE OR SIMILAR FORM OF ENCRYPTION OR MARKING ON THE
PRE-PRINTED BELL JAR TICKET;
(B) REVEAL RESULTS;
(C) VERIFY IF A BELL JAR TICKET IS REDEEMABLE FOR A PRIZE;
(D) ELECTRONICALLY AGGREGATE WINNING PRIZES FOR CONTINUED PLAY;
(E) PRODUCE A VOUCHER FOR PRIZE REDEMPTION OR PROOF OF PURCHASE;
(F) TRACK THE SALES OF TICKETS AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION AS REQUIRED
BY THE COMMISSION AND REPORT SUCH SALES AND OTHER INFORMATION TO THE
COMMISSION;
(G) PROHIBIT SPINNING REELS OR OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR AUDIOVISUAL
FEATURES THAT MIMIC A VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINAL OR SLOT MACHINE;
(H) PROHIBIT ANY ELECTRONIC USER INTERFACE THAT MIMICS A VIDEO SLOT
MACHINE;
(I) PROHIBIT FREE PLAYS, BONUS GAMES, MULTIPLIERS, JACKPOTS; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, THAT FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE PROHIBITION ON
"JACKPOTS" SHALL NOT INCLUDE PRIZES THAT MAY BE WON ON THE BELL JAR
TICKET ITSELF, SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN REGULATIONS PROMUL-
S. 6351--B 5
GATED BY THE COMMISSION, DISCOUNTS, PROMOTIONS, SPECIAL OFFERS, OR SIMI-
LAR INCENTIVES TO INITIATE OR PROLONG PLAYER ENGAGEMENT;
(J) PROHIBIT ANY FEATURE THAT SIMULATES SKILL OR ALLOWS PLAYER INPUT
TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF A PREDETERMINED RESULT;
(K) PROHIBIT THE DISPLAY OF NEAR-MISS OUTCOMES THAT MAY MISLEAD A
PLAYER INTO BELIEVING A WIN WAS NARROWLY MISSED; AND
(L) LIMIT THE SPEED OF PLAY TO PREVENT RAPID SUCCESSIVE WAGERING AS
REQUIRED BY REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSION.
4. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SHALL BE DISPLAYED BY EACH ELECTRONIC
BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE:
(A) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TICKETS IN EACH DEAL;
(B) THE PRICE OF EACH TICKET;
(C) THE NUMBER AND AMOUNT OF PRIZES IN EACH DEAL;
(D) THE NUMBER OF WINNERS PER TICKET AND ITS RESPECTIVE WINNING
NUMBERS OR SYMBOLS;
(E) THE NAME OF THE GAME;
(F) THE NAME OR LOGO OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TICKETS AND THE ELEC-
TRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE;
(G) THE COMPULSIVE GAMBLING HOTLINE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE STATE OF
NEW YORK; AND
(H) NOTIFICATION THAT ONLY INDIVIDUALS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER
MAY USE AN ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE.
5. IF A VOUCHER IS PRODUCED BY AN ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE
FOR PRIZE REDEMPTION, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SHALL APPEAR ON SUCH
VOUCHER:
(A) THE AGGREGATE PRIZE AMOUNT PAYABLE TO THE PLAYER;
(B) THE DEVICE NUMBER OR OTHER IDENTIFICATION METHOD FOR THE VENDING
MACHINE THAT PRODUCED SUCH VOUCHER;
(C) THE DATE AND TIME THAT SUCH VOUCHER WAS PRINTED;
(D) THE SEQUENTIAL NUMBER OR OTHER IDENTIFICATION METHOD OF SUCH
VOUCHER;
(E) AN IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, BARCODE OR SIMILAR FORM OF ENCRYPTION
THAT MAY BE USED TO VALIDATE THE PRIZE AMOUNT PAYABLE TO THE PLAYER; AND
(F) THE PERIOD OF TIME DURING WHICH UNUSED TICKETS OR PRIZE AMOUNTS
MUST BE CLAIMED.
6. (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL
HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(I) "ACTIVE LOCAL MEMBER" SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL WHO PARTICIPATES IN
THE ACTIVITIES OF AN AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION AND RESIDES WITHIN THE
COUNTY WHERE THE AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION IS LOCATED OR AN ADJOINING
COUNTY, AS DEFINED BY RULES PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSION.
(II) "EXISTING AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION" SHALL MEAN AN AUTHORIZED
ORGANIZATION THAT WAS LICENSED TO CONDUCT GAMES OF CHANCE PRIOR TO THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
(III) "NEW AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION" SHALL MEAN AN AUTHORIZED ORGANIZA-
TION THAT IS FIRST LICENSED TO CONDUCT GAMES OF CHANCE ON OR AFTER THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
(IV) "GAMING FACILITY" SHALL MEAN ANY COMMERCIAL CASINO, VIDEO LOTTERY
TERMINAL FACILITY, OR TRIBAL GAMING FACILITY OPERATING PURSUANT TO STATE
OR FEDERAL LAW. LOCATIONS OF SUCH FACILITIES SHALL BE THOSE IDENTIFIED
BY THE COMMISSION.
(B) THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES THAT AN
EXISTING AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION MAY OPERATE SHALL BE DETERMINED BASED
UPON THE NUMBER OF ITS ACTIVE LOCAL MEMBERS, AS FOLLOWS:
S. 6351--B 6
(I) AN EXISTING AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION WITH FEWER THAN FIFTY ACTIVE
LOCAL MEMBERS MAY OPERATE A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ONE ELECTRONIC BELL JAR
VENDING MACHINE;
(II) AN EXISTING AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION WITH FIFTY OR MORE BUT FEWER
THAN ONE HUNDRED ACTIVE LOCAL MEMBERS MAY OPERATE A MAXIMUM OF TWO ELEC-
TRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES;
(III) AN EXISTING AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION WITH ONE HUNDRED OR MORE
ACTIVE LOCAL MEMBERS BUT FEWER THAN TWO HUNDRED ACTIVE LOCAL MEMBERS MAY
OPERATE A MAXIMUM OF THREE ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES;
(IV) AN EXISTING AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION WITH TWO HUNDRED OR MORE BUT
FEWER THAN THREE HUNDRED ACTIVE LOCAL MEMBERS MAY OPERATE A MAXIMUM OF
FOUR ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES; AND
(V) AN EXISTING AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION WITH THREE HUNDRED OR MORE
ACTIVE LOCAL MEMBERS MAY OPERATE A MAXIMUM OF FIVE ELECTRONIC BELL JAR
VENDING MACHINES.
(C) A NEW AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION MAY OPERATE A MAXIMUM OF ONE ELEC-
TRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE.
(D) (I) FOR ANY AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION AT A PREMISES LOCATED WITHIN
FIFTEEN MILES OF ANY GAMING FACILITY, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC
BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES THAT MAY BE OPERATED SHALL BE ONE, NOTWITH-
STANDING THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION; PROVIDED
HOWEVER, THAT THIS LIMITATION SHALL NOT APPLY TO GAMING FACILITIES
LOCATED WITHIN CITIES WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE AS OF THE
LATEST FEDERAL DECENNIAL CENSUS.
(II) FOR ANY AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION AT A PREMISES LOCATED MORE THAN
FIFTEEN MILES BUT NOT MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE MILES FROM ANY GAMING FACIL-
ITY, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES THAT MAY
BE OPERATED SHALL BE THREE, NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH
(B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
(III) IN CITIES WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE AS OF THE
LATEST FEDERAL DECENNIAL CENSUS, THE FOLLOWING GEOGRAPHIC CONSIDERATIONS
SHALL APPLY, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS PARAGRAPH OR
PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION:
FOR ANY AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION AT A PREMISES LOCATED WITHIN TWO THOU-
SAND FIVE HUNDRED FEET OF ANY GAMING FACILITY, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES THAT MAY BE OPERATED SHALL BE ONE.
THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR MEASURING SUCH DISTANCE.
FOR ANY AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION AT A PREMISES LOCATED MORE THAN TWO
THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FEET BUT NOT MORE THAN ONE MILE FROM ANY GAMING
FACILITY, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES
THAT MAY BE OPERATED SHALL BE ONE FOR NEW AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATIONS. FOR
EXISTING AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THIS ZONE, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER
OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES SHALL BE TWO, PROVIDED THAT THE
COMMISSION, IN AUTHORIZING SUCH MACHINES, CONSIDERS LOCAL MARKET CONDI-
TIONS AND THE OBJECTIVES OF PREVENTING MARKET OVERSATURATION. FOR ANY
AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION AT A PREMISES LOCATED MORE THAN ONE MILE FROM
ANY GAMING FACILITY, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING
MACHINES SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPHS (B) AND (C)
OF THIS SUBDIVISION, PROVIDED THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL RETAIN THE
DISCRETION TO IMPOSE STRICTER LIMITATIONS BASED ON LOCAL DENSITY OF
AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING SUCH MACHINES, POTENTIAL IMPACT ON
EXISTING GAMING FACILITIES, AND OTHER LOCAL MARKET CONDITIONS SPECIFIC
TO SUCH CITY, CONSISTENT WITH THE OBJECTIVES SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH (E)
OF THIS SUBDIVISION. THE COMMISSION SHALL, BY RULE OR REGULATION,
FURTHER DEFINE THE METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING LOCAL DENSITY AND MARKET
CONDITIONS WITHIN SUCH CITIES AND MAY ESTABLISH SPECIFIC ZONES OR AREAS
S. 6351--B 7
WHERE THE PLACEMENT OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES IS FURTHER
LIMITED OR REQUIRES ENHANCED REVIEW, TO ENSURE THE RESPONSIBLE INTE-
GRATION OF SUCH CHARITABLE GAMING OPPORTUNITIES.
(IV) THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH, BY RULE OR
REGULATION, SPECIFIC PROXIMITY ZONES AROUND GAMING FACILITIES AND TO
MODIFY THE LIMITATIONS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPHS (I), (II), AND (III) OF
THIS PARAGRAPH BASED UPON LOCAL MARKET CONDITIONS, POTENTIAL IMPACT ON
EXISTING GAMING FACILITIES, AND THE NEED TO PREVENT LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT
AT SUCH FACILITIES, PROVIDED THAT ANY SUCH MODIFICATION SHALL BE
CONSISTENT WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF SUPPORTING CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING WHILE
MAINTAINING THE EXISTING GAMING LANDSCAPE AND PREVENTING MARKET OVERSAT-
URATION; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT ANY SUCH MODIFICATION SHALL CONSTITUTE
ONLY A REDUCTION OF THE THRESHOLDS ESTABLISHED BY THIS SUBDIVISION.
(E) (I) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE
COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE DISCRETION TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF ELEC-
TRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES THAT MAY BE OPERATED BY ANY AUTHORIZED
ORGANIZATION, AND THE LOCATION OF SUCH MACHINES; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT
SUCH NUMBER OF MACHINES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE LIMITS ESTABLISHED IN THIS
SUBDIVISION. SUCH DISCRETION SHALL BE EXERCISED TO ENSURE THAT THE
INTRODUCTION AND OPERATION OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES
OCCURS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE FUNDRAISING CAPABILITIES OF LEGITIMATE CHARI-
TABLE ORGANIZATIONS WHILE MAINTAINING THE STABILITY OF EXISTING REGU-
LATED GAMING SECTORS AND REVENUE TO THE STATE, AND AVOIDING ANY LOSS OF
EMPLOYMENT AT EXISTING GAMING FACILITIES.
(II) THE COMMISSION MAY REQUIRE PERIODIC REPORTING OR VERIFICATION OF
ACTIVE LOCAL MEMBERSHIP TO ENSURE ONGOING COMPLIANCE WITH ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS AND MAY TAKE ENFORCEMENT ACTION IN CASES OF MATERIAL
MISREPRESENTATION OR SUSTAINED NONCOMPLIANCE. THE COMMISSION MAY ALSO
TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION REASONABLE AND PERIODIC FLUCTUATIONS IN MEMBER-
SHIP TO AVOID REQUIRING THE REMOVAL OR RETIREMENT OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR
VENDING MACHINES DUE TO TEMPORARY OR MINIMAL DECREASES IN MEMBERSHIP.
(III) THE COMMISSION SHALL DENY, REVOKE, OR LIMIT THE NUMBER OF ELEC-
TRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES AN AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION MAY OPERATE
IF IT DETERMINES THAT SUCH ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, STRUC-
TURED, OR IS BEING UTILIZED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO OBTAIN A GREATER
NUMBER OF MACHINES THAN OTHERWISE WOULD BE PERMITTED. THIS INCLUDES, BUT
IS NOT LIMITED TO, THE CREATION OF SUBSIDIARY ENTITIES, SHELL ORGANIZA-
TIONS, OR ANY OTHER ARRANGEMENT WHERE THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES INDI-
CATE AN INTENT TO CIRCUMVENT THE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN THIS SUBDIVI-
SION. THE COMMISSION IS EMPOWERED TO SCRUTINIZE THE GOVERNANCE,
OPERATIONAL CONTROL, AND FINANCIAL INTERDEPENDENCE OF ORGANIZATIONS TO
MAKE SUCH DETERMINATIONS.
(IV) THE CO-SITING OR JOINT HOUSING OF MULTIPLE AUTHORIZED ORGANIZA-
TIONS AT A SINGLE PREMISES OR CONTIGUOUS PREMISES FOR THE PRIMARY
PURPOSE OF INCREASING THE AGGREGATE NUMBER OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VEND-
ING MACHINES AT SUCH LOCATION BEYOND WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE PERMITTED
FOR A SINGLE AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION OPERATING AT SUCH PREMISES IS
PROHIBITED, UNLESS EXPLICITLY AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSION UPON A FIND-
ING THAT SUCH ARRANGEMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE
OBJECTIVES OF THIS ARTICLE. THE COMMISSION SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND
REGULATIONS TO EFFECTUATE THIS PROVISION, CONSIDERING FACTORS SUCH AS
SHARED OPERATIONAL CONTROL, MEMBERSHIP OVERLAP, AND THE PRIMARY PURPOSE
OF THE CO-SITING ARRANGEMENT.
7. THE COMMISSION SHALL PROMULGATE SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS MAY
BE NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING
MACHINE GAMING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION,
S. 6351--B 8
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE VERIFICATION OF ACTIVE LOCAL MEMBERSHIP
NUMBERS AND ASSESSMENT OF PROXIMITY TO GAMING FACILITIES.
§ 7. Subdivisions 1 and 4 of section 195-n of the general municipal
law, as amended by chapter 637 of the laws of 1999, are amended to read
as follows:
1. Distribution; manufacturers. For business conducted in this state,
manufacturers licensed by the [board] COMMISSION to sell bell jar tick-
ets OR ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES shall sell only such tickets
OR VENDING MACHINES to distributors licensed by the [board] COMMISSION.
Manufacturers of bell jar tickets, seal cards, merchandise boards, and
coin boards may submit samples, artists' renderings, or color photoco-
pies of proposed bell jar tickets, seal cards, merchandise boards, coin
boards, payout cards, and flares for review and approval by the [board]
COMMISSION. Within thirty days of receipt of such sample or rendering,
the [board] COMMISSION shall approve or deny such bell jar tickets.
Following approval of a rendering of a bell jar ticket, seal card,
merchandise board, or coin board by the [board] COMMISSION, the manufac-
turer shall submit to the [board] COMMISSION a sample of the printed
bell jar ticket, seal card, merchandise board, coin board, payout card,
and flare for such game. Such sample shall be submitted prior to the
sale of the game to any licensed distributor for resale in this state.
For coin boards and merchandise boards, nothing herein shall require the
submittal of actual coins or merchandise as part of the approval proc-
ess. Any licensed manufacturer who willfully violates the provisions of
this section shall: (a) upon such first offense, have their license
suspended for a period of thirty days; (b) upon such second offense,
participate in a hearing to be conducted by the [board] COMMISSION, and
surrender their license for such period as recommended by the [board]
COMMISSION; and (c) upon such third or subsequent offense, have their
license suspended for a period of one year and shall be guilty of a
class E felony. Any unlicensed manufacturer who violates the provisions
of this section shall be guilty of a class E felony.
4. Reports of sales. A manufacturer who sells bell jar tickets for
resale in this state shall file with the [board] COMMISSION, on a form
prescribed by the [board] COMMISSION a report of all bell jar tickets
sold to distributors in the state. The report shall be filed quarterly
on or before the twentieth day of the month succeeding the end of the
quarter in which the sale was made. The [board] COMMISSION may require
that the report be submitted via magnetic media or electronic data
transfer. SUCH REPORT SHALL ALSO INCLUDE INFORMATION REGARDING ANY ELEC-
TRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES SOLD OR LEASED TO A DISTRIBUTOR
LICENSED BY THE COMMISSION.
§ 8. Subdivisions 1, 3, 4, and 5 of section 195-o of the general
municipal law, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 637 of the laws of
1999, subdivisions 3 and 4 as added by chapter 309 of the laws of 1996
and subdivision 5 as amended by section 16 of part MM of chapter 59 of
the laws of 2017, are amended to read as follows:
1. Distribution; distributors. Any distributor licensed in accordance
with section one hundred eighty-nine-a of this article to distribute
bell jar tickets OR ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES shall purchase
[bell jar] SUCH tickets AND VENDING MACHINES only from licensed manufac-
turers and may manufacture coin boards and merchandise boards only as
authorized in subdivision one-a of this section. Licensed distributors
of bell jar tickets AND ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES shall sell
such tickets AND VENDING MACHINES only to not-for-profit, charitable or
religious organizations registered by the [board] COMMISSION. Any
S. 6351--B 9
licensed distributor who willfully violates the provisions of this
section shall: (a) upon such first offense, have their license suspended
for a period of thirty days; (b) upon such second offense, participate
in a hearing to be conducted by the [board] COMMISSION, and surrender
their license for such period as recommended by the [board] COMMISSION;
and (c) upon such third or subsequent offense, have their license
suspended for a period of one year and shall be guilty of a class E
felony. Any unlicensed distributor who violates this section shall be
guilty of a class E felony.
3. Sales records. A distributor shall maintain a record of all bell
jar tickets that it sells AND ALL ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINES
THAT IT SELLS OR LEASES. The record shall include, but need not be
limited to:
(a) the identity of the manufacturer from whom the distributor
purchased the product;
(b) the serial number of the product;
(c) the name, address, and license or exempt permit number of the
organization or person to which the sale was made;
(d) the date of the sale;
(e) the name of the person who ordered the product;
(f) the name of the person who received the product;
(g) the type of product;
[(h) the serial number of the product;
(i)] (H) the account number identifying the sale from the manufacturer
to distributor and the account number identifying the sale from the
distributor to the licensed organization; and
[(j)] (I) the name, form number, or other identifying information for
each game.
4. Invoices; AGREEMENTS. (A) A distributor shall supply with each
sale of a bell jar product an itemized invoice showing the distributor's
name and address, the purchaser's name, address, and license number, the
date of the sale, the account number identifying the sale from the
manufacturer to distributor and the account number identifying the sale
from the distributor to the licensed organization, and the description
of the deals, including the form number, the serial number and the ideal
gross from every deal of bell jar or similar game.
(B) PRIOR TO THE SALE, LEASE, OR DISTRIBUTION OF AN ELECTRONIC BELL
JAR VENDING MACHINE TO AN AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION, THE DISTRIBUTOR OR
MANUFACTURER SHALL PROVIDE THE CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT FOR SUCH SALE,
LEASE OR DISTRIBUTION TO THE COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL AND ANY MODIFICA-
TION TO SUCH CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT THEREAFTER. SUCH CONTRACT OR AGREE-
MENT SHALL SHOW, AT MINIMUM:
(I) THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION;
(II) THE DATE OF SALE, LEASE OR DISTRIBUTION;
(III) THE SERIAL NUMBER OF EACH SUCH MACHINE;
(IV) THE MATERIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SUCH CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT;
AND
(V) ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS THE COMMISSION MAY REQUIRE.
(C) THE COMMISSION MAY PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO
THE TERMS OF ANY CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT FOR THE SALE, LEASE, OR DISTRIB-
UTION OF AN ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE TO AN AUTHORIZED ORGAN-
IZATION. THE COMMISSION SHALL APPROVE OR DENY SUCH CONTRACT OR AGREE-
MENT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF RECEIPT AND ANY MATERIAL MODIFICATION TO SUCH
CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT THEREAFTER. IF THE COMMISSION DENIES APPROVAL FOR
SUCH CONTRACT, AGREEMENT OR MODIFICATION, IT SHALL PROVIDE THE REASONS
FOR SUCH DETERMINATION.
S. 6351--B 10
5. Reports. A distributor shall report quarterly to the gaming commis-
sion, on a form prescribed by the gaming commission, its sales of each
type of bell jar deal or tickets AND ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING
MACHINES. This report shall be filed quarterly on or before the twenti-
eth day of the month succeeding the end of the quarter in which the sale
was made. The gaming commission may require that a distributor submit
the quarterly report and invoices required by this section via electron-
ic media or electronic data transfer.
§ 9. Section 195-q of the general municipal law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. (A) AN AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION MAY ONLY OPERATE ELECTRONIC BELL JAR
VENDING MACHINES ON PREMISES THAT IT OWNS OR LEASES.
(B) AN AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION MAY OPERATE NO MORE MACHINES THAN THE
NUMBER PERMITTED IN SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE-C
OF THIS ARTICLE.
(C) NO AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION SHALL OPERATE AN ELECTRONIC BELL JAR
VENDING MACHINE UNLESS IT IS A GAMES OF CHANCE LICENSEE AUTHORIZED BY
THE COMMISSION TO OPERATE AN ELECTRONIC BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE. THE
COMMISSION MAY PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR
THE APPROVAL OF AN AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION TO OPERATE AN ELECTRONIC BELL
JAR VENDING MACHINE. THE COMMISSION MAY REVOKE, SUSPEND, OR CONDITION
SUCH APPROVAL. THE COMMISSION SHALL APPROVE OR DENY SUCH REQUEST FOR
SUCH APPROVAL WITHIN THIRTY DAYS. IF THE COMMISSION DENIES SUCH REQUEST,
IT SHALL PROVIDE THE REASONS FOR SUCH DETERMINATION.
(D) EACH BELL JAR VENDING MACHINE SHALL GENERATE SALES REPORTS AND
SUCH OTHER INFORMATION THAT THE COMMISSION MAY DIRECT BY REGULATION.
THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE ACCESS TO THE SERVER OF EACH ELECTRONIC BELL
JAR VENDING MACHINE FOR THE PURPOSE OF MONITORING AND AUDITING AT NO
COST TO THE STATE.
(E) ANY UNCLAIMED FUNDS OR TICKETS LEFT IN ANY ELECTRONIC BELL JAR
VENDING MACHINE SHALL BE RETAINED BY THE AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION AND
REPORTED AS NET PROCEEDS.
§ 10. This act shall take effect immediately.Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.