TICK-TOCK, TICK-TOCK Goes the Pennsylvania Small Games Of Chance Accountability Clock

Good afternoon!  Today is August 7^th and exactly 219 days into being accountable for SGOC activity for PA Non Liquor license holders and 38 days in for PA SGOC Liquor license holders. 

If you read my blog from last week then you know that additional discussions involving 2 of the more popular Small Games Of Chance laws (HB290 and HB1098) will not be scheduled to occur until at least September 30, 2013.  That does not mean either of the Bills will be scheduled, only that they could be. 

July 2013 is gone and we are now a week into August.  If you are on the fence on whether to check out the Sienna Database System, please know that you can get your system current with your SGOC Activity by entering your business SGOC activity from July 1 up to the current date or from January 1, 2013 for Non Liquor license holders. We will help you get started when we train you and your staff on how to use the system.   Our system also comes with a series of “How To” videos that show you step-by-step how to enter and edit your SGOC activity into the system. 

We will soon be releasing SDS 2.0!  Our prices will slightly increase with the Release.  However, if you order before we officially release version 2.0 (Tentative Release date is September 19^th) you can get SDS 2.0 at the SDS 1.0 price.   Also, we are awaiting test results from our latest round of testing with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.  If we met all of the State requirements we will be only the Small Games of Chance Reporting system approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue!  Please note that our Non Liquor license version (SDS Ultra Lite) is in BETA testing now and is also expected to be available beginning September 19th.

Please check out our Facebook page where you can see a list of what is new in Sienna Database System 2.0 (SDS 2.0).  Also our You Tube page is being updated weekly with new “How To” videos.  See for yourself how easy it is to use the system by checking out the videos.

SDS YouTube Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/PASGOC

SDS Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PASGOC

One final note:  If you are thinking that you can get by without reporting your activity, you are wrong.  You will not get your SGOC license renewed when you apply for your license next year.  You MUST accompany a copy of the report you filed with the PA Department of Revenue when you apply for your SGOC license in 2014. 

Take advantage of paying for the SDS System by using your Gross Proceeds (BEFORE the 70-30 split).  This is your chance to use your SGOC Gross proceeds to purchase an invaluable tool to help whoever in your business is recording your SGOC activity.  They will literally save hours of time a week by using the SDS System.  

There is NO better system to assist you in being Accountable for your Small Games of Chance Activity.

 

Pennsylvania HB290 and HB1098 - PA Legislation that Impact SGOC License Organizations

These Bills both hit the same legislation spot at the same time but will either of them reach the final destination of becoming a Pennsylvania Law?

Both Bills have legislation involving Small Games of Chance and both bills were re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee this past June 20^th. 

Tuesday July 30th my local Senator John Wozniak’s office returned a call I made with his office inquiring if they had any information pertaining to these bills. 

Senator Wozniak’s Executive Director Josh Myers (no relation) promptly returned my call and told me the summer recess would last until September 23.  Mr. Myers also suggested that I reach out to Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman’s office to ask for any information about the bills.

I called Senator Corman’s office on Wednesday and I was connected with Senator Corman’s Legislative Director Scott Sikorski.  Mr. Sikorski told me that although legislatures return on September 23^rd, nothing pertaining to these bills would be discussed until at least September 30^th.  This does not mean they will be discussed September 30^th, just that it is the earliest they could be scheduled on the calendar to be discussed.

Mr. Sikorski did not have an opinion how Governor Corbett stands on any of the HB290 issues. 

On a side-note; 

Governor Corbett spoke during the 95^th Annual American Legion Convention in Harrisburg a couple weeks ago and although I did not hear his speech, I did ask some of Legionnaire’s that were present during his speech and they all said that he did not mention anything regarding the Small Games of Chance laws . 

Note:  If any of you reading this blog attended the speech and you heard Governor Corbett talk about Small Games of Chance, please leave a comment (or email me at DKellyMyers@gmail.com) letting everyone know what was said.

For more information regarding the status of HB1098 I suggest you read the following post made by the VFW Department of Pennsylvania Facebook page – please note the post was made  this past June 20th;

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151478723523342&id=155238743341

 

Resources:

Office of Senator John Wozniak, Executive Director Josh Myers

Office of Senator Jake Corman, Legislative Director Scott Sikorski
And VFW Department of Pennsylvania Facebook page (see above)

American Legion 95th Annual Convention

I spent the better part of last week with hundreds of Pennsylvania’s American Legionnaires at the American Legion 95^th Annual State Convention in Harrisburg.  

Many of those in attendance were interested in the status of the most popular PA SGOC Bill, HB290.    Many were also interested in the Sienna Database System©.   As previously mentioned in this blog, HB290 has been pushed to appropriations and there will be no activity in the House and Senate while they are on summer break.

Myers Integrated Systems, LLC partnered with MetroCast Channel 10 Productions as we distributed free SGOC Resource CD’s at the American Legion State Conference.

The Resource CD contains the following:

1-      Small Games of Chance, what is legal video
 (Presented by Sgt. McGinnis - filmed in March by MetroCast Channel 10 Productions)
2-      Current PA SGOC Legislation Present in the PA House and/or PA Senate
3-      Recommended PA LCE Schedules and PowerPoint presentation

We also had many people ask if the CD’s contained information regarding the Sienna Database System©.  Unfortunately we did not include any SDS information on the CD.  However we are in the process of creating video tutorials for the screens used in the SDS system.  We will upload the videos to our YouTube page and include links on our website and also on our Facebook page as they are completed. 

 

I quickly wanted to mention that we have completed several rounds of testing with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.  Within a week or 2 (hopefully!) we will become the only Pennsylvania Department of Revenue approved software for SGOC reporting.

Also, we will be creating a new SGOC Resource CD that will include the same information as listed above but it will also include information and video’s about the Sienna Database System©.

I have calls out to several local PA Representatives and Senators asking about current SGOC legislation.  I'll post anything new regarding the legislation that is not already public knowledge, if there is any. 

Thank you to the Pennsylvania American Legion and all of the American Hero’s I met this past week!

D. Kelly Myers

814-408-2158
DKellyMyers@gmail.com

Resources:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/index.cfm

 

Accountability Begins this Monday (July 1) for PA Small Games of Chance Fraternal and Social Organizations

Beginning January 2, 2014 Small Games of Chance fraternal and social organizations with liquor licenses and now also known as ‘semi-annual’ SGOC filers will need to electronically submit their SGOC activity that occurs from July 1, 2013 thru December 31, 2013.
 

As most already know, keeping accurate SGOC records has been the law since 1988 but fraternal and social organizations did not have to produce the records unless they were one of the approximate 10-15% of fraternal and social organizations in the state that were audited. 

 

As part of PA House Bill 169 you will have to submit your activity with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue in order to renew your SGOC license in 2014.

Fraternal and social organizations do have a choice on HOW they submit their activity:

 Option 1:

·         Gather all of your (up to 11) Schedules recommended by the PA Liquor Control Bureau

 

·         Group/Summarize by your business week each of the 6 legal gaming activities

·         Enter All of your Gaming activity summarized by business week into the PA Department of Revenue’s website

·         Hope you did not have any typing mistakes.  If you made a mistake and the mistake is not caught prior to your submitting the report (during that ONE online session), you will need to re-enter everything into the website in order to submit a corrected report.

Option 2:

·         Enter your gaming Activity into the Sienna Database System© (when convenient for you as your activity is saved on your computer) and have your gaming activity filed electronically via Myers Integrated Systems, LLC after receiving a pre-file Audit of your system.

If your organization is interested in an on-site demonstration of the Sienna Database System© please call me at 814.408.2158 or email me at DKellyMyers@gmail.com.  Also feel free to check out our website at www.myersintsystems.com.

Feel free to post questions and/or comments about PA Small Games of Chance.

Check out our new page on Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Myers-Integrated-Systems-LLC/538415996194030

 

Resources:

 

http://openstates.org/pa/bills/2011-2012/HB169/

 

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0169

 

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2012/0/0002..HTM

 

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

 

https://www.doreservices.state.pa.us/SGOC/Report/EnterReportKeyInfo.aspx

 

 

PA SGOC HB290 Legislation Presented and re-Referred to Appropriations

Yesterday (June 19th), HB290 was presented for ‘First Consideration’ in the Senate.  This is the first step in moving the bill along (if amended it would of course pro-long the process). 

Today (June 20^th) – HB290 was re-Referred to APPROPRIATIONS.

 

Resource:
 

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?syear=2013&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=290

 

 

 

 

Update on current PA SGOC Legislation and 2014 Reporting Tips

Look for us (Myers Integrated Systems, LLC) at the 95^th Annual Department Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars State Convention (next week) Wednesday June 12-thru-15 at the Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center in Lancaster.

 As of June 7, 2013 (today) there have been no recent PA legislature actions involving Small Games of Chance recording and reporting laws.  Note; I’m not including any Major League Sports SGOC related legislation activity.

 

As you are probably aware by now, liquor license SGOC licensee will need to begin filing semi-annual reports with the state beginning on January 2, 2014.   Below are a few tips for you as we close in on the first reportable semi-annual start date of July 1.

·        Pull-tab and Punchboard games that are ‘in-play’ on July 1 will need to be reported when you file in January 2014.

 

·        The ‘date out-of-play’ is the date that drives when the game is reported.

 

·        You will need to group each of your gaming activities by reporting week when you report.  Any of the activities listed below will need to be grouped and itemized by week for Gross Revenue, Total Expenses, Total Prizes and Net Proceeds;

o   Pull-tab game

o   Punchboards

o   Raffles

o   Special Permit Raffles

o   Daily Drawings

o   Weekly Drawings

o   50/50 Drawings

·        The reporting week is determined by first business day established in your by-laws.  Note:  Your first business day is also listed on your SGOC license application.

·        Number of W-2G forms issued beginning July 1 thru December 31 and the total gross winnings from all W-2G forms issued from July 1 thru December 31.

·        Proceeds used for public interest purpose (70%).

·        Proceeds used for operational expenses (30%).

·        Amount of proceeds retained for a substantial purchase or project (including description and completion date).

 

The Sienna Database System©

Removes your struggles with the PA Reporting and Recording Laws

 

 

If you are accountable for your clubs SGOC recording and reporting or if you’re an officer of a club, you may want to join over a dozen liquor license clubs now using the Sienna Database System©.  Numerous VFW’s, Legions, Slovak, Polish, German and Sportsmen clubs are using the system.

·        Sienna does all of the grouping and reporting for you - including with the PA Department of Revenue!

·        Sienna is very easy to use and the cost of the system comes from your SGOC gross sales (before you do the 70-30 split).

·        Sienna produces all LCE “suggested” required reports in addition to many custom manager reports (most are produced by date ranges you supply).

·        User Level Security – Managers/Bartenders/Secretary

 

·        With Sienna, you can track, record and report your membership dues.

·        Sienna allows you to track, record and report your W-2G forms (to the PA Dept. of Revenue for SGOC activity).

 
Contact me at DKellyMyers@gmail.com if you would like more information OR head over to our website; www.myersintsystems.com.

  

Resources:

 

https://www.doreservices.state.pa.us/SGOC/Report/FAQ.aspx

http://www.myersintsystems.com/

Additional PA SGOC Proposed laws

Quickly wanted to mention that another SGOC Seminar event has been scheduled:
Representative Gary Haluska will be sponsoring another SGOC seminar at the Hope Fire Company in Northern Cambria on April 4th at 6pm.  1023 Philadelphia Avenue, Northern Cambria, PA 15714.  Additional details will be shared when they become available.

I found the following post by the PA VFW HQ site to be very informative and I wanted to share. 
I like that the PA legislature websites with the actual proposed bill(s) are listed for you to reference if you wish.

http://www.vfwpahq.org/small-games-of-chance-bills-moving-in-the-pa-legislature/

Resources:
Representative Haluska's office informed of the upcoming seminar at the Hope Fire Company and the website listed above