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S3509
SENATE, No. 3509
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 12, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Corrado, Polistina and Amato
SYNOPSIS
���� Permits conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning the types of raffle games permitted to be
conducted by licensed organizations in this State and supplementing the
�Raffles Licensing Law,� P.L.1954, c.5 (C.5:8-50 et seq.).
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� a.� The Legalized Games
of Chance Control Commission shall adopt regulations, pursuant to the
�Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.),
authorizing licensees to hold and conduct Queen of Hearts raffle games.� The
control commission may specify any requirement applicable to the conduct of
Queen of Hearts raffle games that the control commission may deem necessary in
accordance with this section.
���� b.��� A �Queen of Hearts
raffle� means a raffle game utilizing a Queen of Hearts raffle board onto which
54 playing cards can be placed facedown, side-by-side, and held securely by a
locking, transparent cover, which playing cards shall be thoroughly shuffled and
from which the participant holding the winning raffle ticket drawn at random
from a raffle ticket drum or receptacle shall be entitled to �Search for the
Queen of Hearts� by selecting one of the facedown playing cards.
���� When the playing card selected
is not the Queen of Hearts, the card shall be placed out of play, and the
holder of the winning raffle ticket selecting that card shall be immediately
awarded a cash prize valued according to the schedule set forth in regulation
by the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission.� The raffle drawings shall
be conducted weekly until a person selects the Queen of Hearts. When the
playing card selected is the Queen of Hearts, the holder of the winning raffle
ticket selecting that card shall be awarded 50 percent of the prize, with the
remainder of the prize retained by the licensee as proceeds from conducting the
raffle.
���� c.���� The licensee may use
the net proceeds derived from the conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games in
any manner allowable by law and in accordance with State regulations.
���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill permits raffle
licensees to conduct of Queen of Hearts raffle games.
���� Under current law,
municipalities where voters have approved a referendum to allow raffle games
may license eligible organizations to conduct these games.� The Legalized Games
of Chance Control Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety regulates
the conduct of these games.
���� Under Article IV, Section VII,
paragraph 2, subparagraph B of the State Constitution, and under the Raffles
Licensing Law, eligible organizations may apply for a license to conduct
raffles.� Bona fide organizations or associations of veterans; churches or
religious congregations and religious organizations; charitable, educational,
and fraternal organizations; civic and service clubs; senior citizen
associations and clubs; officially recognized volunteer fire companies; and
officially recognized volunteer first aid or rescue squads are eligible to
apply for a license.�
���� This bill permits eligible
organizations to conduct Queen of Hearts raffle games. �A �Queen of Hearts
raffle� means a raffle game utilizing a Queen of Hearts raffle board onto which
54 thoroughly shuffled playing cards are placed facedown, side-by-side.� Raffle
tickets are placed into a ticket drum or other receptacle and a winning ticket
is drawn at random.� The participant holding the winning raffle ticket is
entitled to �Search for the Queen of Hearts� by selecting one of the facedown
playing cards.� When the playing card selected is not the Queen of Hearts, the
card is placed out of play, and the person is awarded a cash prize valued
according to a certain schedule.� The raffle drawings are conducted weekly
until a person selects the Queen of Hearts.� When a person selects the Queen of
Hearts, that person will be awarded 50 percent of the prize, and the remainder
of the prize will be retained by the licensee as proceeds from conducting the
raffle.
���� The bill specifies that the
licensee may use the net proceeds derived from the conduct of Queen of Hearts
raffle games in any manner allowable by law and in accordance with State
regulations.� The bill directs the Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission
to adopt the necessary rules and regulations for the conduct of Queen of Hearts
raffle games.