Fire companies in Whitemarsh, Plymouth and Whitpain townships can now sell raffle tickets online after Gov. Josh Shapiro signed two bills Thursday, Oct. 22, updating Pennsylvania's small games of chance rules.
Senate Bill 398 creates a pilot program exclusively for fire companies to sell raffle tickets online through the end of 2027, according to CNHI News. Sen. Michele Brooks, R-Crawford/Lawrence/Mercer, introduced the bill. The pilot took effect immediately upon signing.
A second bill, Senate Bill 416, allows all eligible nonprofits to accept credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments such as PayPal and Venmo for raffle tickets. Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Allegheny, introduced that measure, which takes effect in 60 days. Mobile payments are not permitted for tavern raffles and games, CNHI News reported.
Both bills raise the maximum weekly prize payout from $35,000 to $60,000. They also increase the share of small games revenue that organizations can keep from 40% to 50%, with the new split backdated to cover all of 2026.
The legislation followed a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that classified skill games as slot machines, making them illegal outside licensed casinos. That decision cut off a revenue stream for fire companies, VFWs and similar organizations. Brooks said the groups have faced rising costs and had not seen a prize-limit increase since 2013, according to CNHI News.
Barren Hill Volunteer Fire Company, which has served Whitemarsh Township since 1915, already accepts donations through Venmo and PayPal and hosts raffles, gift card bingo and other fundraising events, according to the company's 2025 annual report. Board of Trustees Chair Shel Klein has said the Whitemarsh Township fire tax and municipal allocation do not fully fund fire service operations.
Barren Hill is midway through a three-year campaign to raise $600,000 for a new tower ladder truck. As of early 2026, the campaign had collected about $175,000.
The raffle bills were part of a 58-bill package that also included House Bill 2014, introduced by state Rep. Greg Scott, D-Montgomery. That measure sets a uniform 10 p.m. curfew for minors in volunteer firefighting training year-round, replacing a rule that dropped the limit to 9 p.m. on weekends, holidays and summer breaks.
John Hoffman, fire chief of Harmonville Fire Company No. 1, endorsed the curfew change in an Oct. 21 news release from Scott's office. "Our junior firefighters are the future of the volunteer fire service, and we must provide them with every opportunity to train, learn and develop their skills," Hoffman said.
No public comment from local fire company leaders specifically about the online raffle law was available as of Oct. 23.
