PA Small Games of Chance 2014 Activity Filing Update

Myers Integrated Systems, was contacted by the PA Department of Revenue a little over a week ago with electronic filing changes that we were required to implement and successfully test prior to filing 2014 Activity with the State on behalf of our customers beginning in June (less than 2 weeks away).

We are happy to report that we implemented and successfully tested the changes required with the PA Dept. of Revenue. Unfortunately, the States modification of the filing process requires us to recreate our customers 2014 reporting e-file. Our customers that are impacted will need to have their system updated to our 4.52 version in order to create their 2014 SGOC e-file. We have been contacting our customers and scheduling the upgrade. If you are a current Sienna Database Ticket customer and have not yet been contacted, you will be contacted soon.

According to an article that can be found from the link listed in the Resources section below, The PA State website is already available and accepting entry of 2014 activity. However, when we looked at the States website it did not appear ready to allow users to enter 2014 activity as of this morning (5/24/15) at 9:30 am. 

Finally, Monday is Memorial Day and we honor and appreciate all of our Veterans but especially our Veterans that gave the ultimate sacrifice in serving and protecting our great country. Please know that you and your sacrifice have not been forgotten. Please support your local Veterans fraternal organizations, stop in and purchase several red poppies, you can read about the meaning of the red poppies in the link below.

Resources;

http://newsitem.com/news/small-games-of-chance-website-ready-for-use-1.1886582

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_poppy

PA Dept of Revenue Website available for 2014 SGOC activity

https://www.doreservices.state.pa.us/sgoc/Default.aspx

The Pa Department of Revenue website is available for organizations licensed to conduct small games of chance.  If your organization makes over $20,000 a year from gaming, you have until January 31, 2015 to file your 2014 activity into the State’s website.

Many organizations will now be finding themselves spending weeks compiling inconsistent gaming records, then taking those records and spending countless hours manually entering their gaming records into the Department of Revenue’s website

Why is this process so difficult?

Because all of the following must be accounted for:

1.    All Games that were in play and out of play in 2014, Gross Revenue/Total Expenses/Total Prizes and Proceeds amounts need to be grouped/tallied and reported.

2.    Processes must be implemented to lower the risk of employee theft

3.    Each game must be tracked using up to 14 different Schedules provided by the PA Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement.

4.    For all 2014 gaming activity each of the 8 Game types need to be grouped by business week, Expenses/Proceeds etc. Tallied and entered into the States website.

5.    All of your Gaming 60% transactions (donations) and a summary of your 40% transactions need to be entered into the States website.

SIENNA, our easy to use ticket tracking software, simplifies this complicated process.

By choosing SIENNA, our Customers do not have these difficulties. SIENNA simplifies all of the difficult aspects of running a successful gaming business.

SIENNA provides your organization with all of the following:

-       Tracks all information required by the BLCE as sales and payouts are made

-       Significantly reduces the ability for bar staff to steal gaming money

-       Provides daily reports for reconcilement

-       The ONLY ticket tracking software that files your gaming activity electronically to the Department of Revenue, so you don’t have to.

With features like Membership Tracking and customized alerts, your organization will find itself saving time, money, and simplifying all of the processes required to run a successful gaming business. Above all else, you will be safeguarding this all-important revenue stream. As the only ticket tracking system that is approved by the PA Department of Revenue, SIENNA provides the simplification and compliance that your organization needs to succeed.

Happy New Year and May you all have a Blessed 2015!

D. Kelly Myers

www.myersintsystems.com
"Think outside the Jar"

Resources: Same as listed above; https://www.doreservices.state.pa.us/sgoc/Default.aspx

2015 will be here soon, are you ready to file your 2014 SGOC activity ?

We thought this would be a perfect time to re-post BLCE Officer Todd Merlina's presentation from February 12, 2014.  You will find this video to be very informative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIHd4rE-b6k

If you are one of our current customers or business partners please signup and/or login to our Sienna SGOC Insiders only forum.  We posted some very important and informative information over the last several weeks.  This weeks post includes an SDS End of Year checklist, we strongly recommend our customers read the post.

Resources:
Youtube site shown above

Published on Feb 27, 2014

Todd Merlina is an Enforcement Supervisor with the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. He provided this training on the PA Small Games of Chance laws and regulations on February 12, 2014 at the Cardinal Keeler Center, Harrisburg. This training is to help individuals be more aware of illegal gambling and to understand how to conduct games of chance for the purpose of raising funds legally. More information is available at www.Lce.state.pa.us

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PA SGOC Electronic Filing begins in approx. 7 weeks

A few important announcements for our valued customers and business partners…

You Must be on Release 4.11 or Greater

In roughly 40 days SGOC Licensee’s that made more than $20,000 in net proceeds in 2014 MUST file electronically with the PA Department of Revenue. To file electronically with your Sienna System, make sure that your system is on Release 4.11 or greater.  If your are not on 4.11 or greater please email us at support@myersintsystems.com and we will contact you and schedule a day/time to upgrade your system.

Take Advantage of our Insiders Only Forum

We suggest that our current customers and business partners sign up for our Insiders Only Forum. In the Forum you will find exclusive information on developments in Pennsylvania Small Games. Shoot us an email with your Organization and Contact Info to support@myersintsystems.com.

A Message from the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement

We have been asked by the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement to inform our readers that “Pulltab Parties” and “Ticket Parties” are illegal. 

Forming a Strategy to Comply with the Small Games of Chance Law

Since 2012, Pennsylvania has passed 3 laws that substantially changed the requirements for running a successful gaming business in Pennsylvania. Most Organizations in PA survive because of the revenue brought in from Pull-tabs and other games of chance. The frequent changes made to the Small Games of Chance Law threaten this vital revenue, and thus threatens the existence of not only the Organizations, but the Charities whose survival is dependent on donations from these Organizations. 

HOWEVER, THESE CHANGES SHOULD NOT BE AN OBSTACLE TO RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BAR AND GAMING BUSINESS.

How can your Organization grow its business in such confusing times?

A successful strategy for an Organization MUST cover the following:

1.      Bartenders that sell the tickets, payout winners, and sell food & beverages

2.      Managers that account for daily food & beverage and gaming business

3.      Compliance with ever-changing laws

4.      Retraining new Bartenders, Managers, Trustees/Board Members

1.      Bartenders: Running a successful business in this environment starts with your Bartenders. A good strategy will track each ticket sold by your Bartenders, and every payout made to winning customers. Implementing a good strategy will allow for the Manager to more easily account for the tickets, remove any possibility for your Bartenders to steal money or cheat, and maximize the profit for each and every game put into play.

 

2.      Managers: Your Bar Manager must account for every sale and payout to do his/her job properly. To complicate things, PA Law requires your Organization to maintain up to 14 different records that specify games, winners, and times. Needless to say, your Bar Manager is up against SUBSTANTIAL & TIME CONSUMING HURDLES, not to mention the tremendous pressure from the potential consequences of poor record keeping. Heavy fines and suspension of your gaming license could spell disaster. A successful strategy will allow your Bar Manager to deal with these responsibilities in a time-effective, and stress-relieving manner.

3.      Compliance: With up to a year’s worth of gaming activity for you to input into the Department of Revenue’s e-filing website, and for the BLCE to possibly audit, the chances are greatly increased for fines or worse. Having your gaming records organized is crucial to your Organization’s survival.  If your Organization is audited, your i’s must be dotted and your t’s must be crossed. A successful strategy makes it easy to e-file with the Department of Revenue, and will make for a seamless audit if the BLCE or the Department come knocking. 

4.      Retraining: Organizations like yours see frequent turnover in personnel. Bartenders and Bar Managers come and go, while Trustees and Board Members are voted in and out. To maintain the survival of your Organization, you must insure continuity among ever-changing personnel. A successful strategy makes it easy for a new hire or Trustee to jump right into the system.  A system removes confusion and provides stability in a confusing environment.

Our Customers find all the benefits of having a cohesive approach to their Bar and Gambling business. Sienna, our Food & Beverage and Ticket Management Software, tracks every ticket sale and payout as well as every food & beverage sale made by your Bartenders, provides reports that take hours of work away from your Bar Manager, automatically fills out all reports required by Pennsylvania law, e-files with the Dept. of Revenue so that you don’t have to, and insures continuity in the management of your business, no matter how many of your employees and Trustees come and go.

Contact us today, we would be happy to give you a free demo of our Food & Beverage and Ticket Management system. By partnering with us, your Organization can thrive in difficult times.

 

Paul Jubas

Vice President
814-244-8115
pauljubas@myersintsystems.com
Myers Integrated Systems, LLC

PA BLCE Small Games of Chance Website gets a new Look

The PA Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (and the PA State Police) have been updated and seems friendlier and appears to be easier to navigate.

Check out the new look for yourself…

http://www.psp.pa.gov/LCE/Pages/Small-Games-of-Chance.aspx#.VAjnW4d0wr0

Don't forget there is only ONE Food and Beverage Point of Sale and Ticket Tracking, Recording and Reporting system that files electronically with the PA Department of Revenue AND Creates ALL of the PA BLCE Recommended Schedules!   The Sienna Database System! 
You can find us here:  www.myersintsystems.com
OR
email us at support@myersintsystems.com OR Call 844-GET-SGOC - (844) 438-7462
and Schedule a Demo of our system!

 

 

 

PA Small Games of Chance YouTube Video

Even though the presentation is in front of Catholic Church/Non Profit licensee's, I strongly suggest you at least listen to the presentation as Officer Todd Merlina does an excellent job explaining the recent law changes. 

Below is the video description posted with the YouTube video:

Published on Feb 27, 2014
Todd Merlina is an Enforcement Supervisor with the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. He provided this training on the PA Small Games of Chance laws and regulations on February 12, 2014 at the Cardinal Keeler Center, Harrisburg. This training is to help individuals be more aware of illegal gambling and to understand how to conduct games of chance for the purpose of raising funds legally. More information is available at http://www.Lce.state.pa.us

You can find the YouTube video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIHd4rE-b6k

Note:
Customers and/or Business Partners of Myers Integrated Systems, LLC that registered to access our 'Insiders Only Forum' have known about the video above for several weeks.  

PA SGOC Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement Publishes updated Schedules

The PA BLCE published new and updated Schedules for all SGOC licensees. 

As of this blog post (April 27, 2014), The bottom of the PA BLCE SGOC page still has a message stating they are reviewing recent changes, however it appears they posted their interpretation and as previously reported in this blog, the PA BLCE interpretation is 'in-line' with the PA Department of Revenue's published interpretation.

What’s old?

You will want to ignore the last document listed on the site as it appears to be an older version of the Bureau’s interpretation.  The document references of $5000 max payout and keeping winners information for prizes $101.  These totals are no longer accurate.  The current total requirements are stated in the first pdf file listed which is the ‘Explanation of SGOC Schedules”.

Ignore this document;

 

 

What’s new?

The Schedule 3 description clearly states (as does the PA Dept. of Revenues) that licensees requirement for recording prizes in excess of $600.  I personally know of many organizations that are still recording the winners over $100.  Please note that you can continue to record the winners information for the over $100 winners if you wish, however the requirement is now greater than $600 so you do not have to keep winners information if it is not greater than $600.

    Schedule 3 description;

Schedule 8, Race Night Records

Ignore Schedule 7, Pools as it is not legal and will not be used;

Are there any organizations that are planning on having the Race Nights?  If so, please know you can only have 1 every calendar month. 

Of course our Sienna Database System will be modified to include the Schedule 8 Race Night. 

If you have any questions or comments or would like a demonstration of our Point of Sale and/or SDS Small Games of Chance Compliance systems please leave a comment and/or contact us at DKellyMyers@myersintsystems.com or call 1-844-GET-SGOC (1-844-438-7462).

Resources:
http://www.lce.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/hide_-_liquor_control_enforcement/5900/small_games_of_chance_schedules/501941