FREE Small Games of Chance Workshop for Nonprofits, Licensees
Posted on August 15, 2025Johnstown, PA (August 14, 2025) – Pull-tab games, raffles, Bingo nights, and 50/50 drawings are common ways for organizations to raise money. Although many people may not view those games as gambling, the state of Pennsylvania does and requires organizations conducting Small Games of Chance (SGOC) to follow the rules.
The Cambria County Drug & Alcohol Program has partnered with The Learning Lamp to coordinate a FREE SGOC workshop on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. The two-hour information workshop, led by a trainer from the Pennsylvania State Police, will describe Pennsylvania Gambling & Small Games of Chance laws, operation of games, permitted games, and required documentation.
“We are pleased to offer these free trainings to our community organizations,” said Fred Oliveros, Administrator, Cambria County Drug & Alcohol Program. The workshops are perfect opportunities for people from a wide range of organizations to come with questions and ensure the fundraisers they have planned are conducted legally.
The small games of chance law authorizes certain non-profit organizations, known as eligible organizations (including club licensees), and for-profit taverns to conduct limited types of gambling.
The upcoming training will be held Tuesday, August 19, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hope Fire Company, 1023 Philadelphia Avenue, Northern Cambria, PA 15714. Seating is limited. Registration is required.
Please register by noon Monday, August 18 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SGOC-8-19-25. For more information, contact Prevention Assistant Heidi Buchan at 814-262-0732 ext. 237 or email hbuchan@thelearninglamp.org.
The Learning Lamp is a nonprofit organization with a mission to engage all children in the support they need to succeed. We deliver high-quality programs that are affordable and accessible to families of all income levels. In 2024, The Learning Lamp and our school-based division Ignite Education Solutions directly served 43,056 children and adults. In addition, we worked with 87 public and private schools in 17 Pennsylvania counties and supported 503 child care and community-based organizations with free or nearly free shared resources, positively impacting another 53,384 children in 55 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Our programs include: child care and preschool, tutoring, school staffing, educational programs for at-risk students, online learning, credit recovery, school-based substance use prevention, project consulting for schools, and early childhood systems building.