Charitable groups and organizations in New York will soon have a new tool to help them raise money.

State Senator Joseph Griffo says the New York State Gaming Commission has formally adopted final regulations for the online sale of raffle tickets and the acceptance of debit and credit card payments for fundraising activities.

State regulations overseeing charitable donations had previously required cash-only sales for raffle tickets.

The adoption of the new regulations comes more than four years after the Charitable Gaming Act which authorized online transactions, was signed into law on Dec. 18, 2017.

Griffo says the act stipulated that the commission be required to formulate regulations by June 2018, but the commission failed to act until recently.

“I am pleased that, after years of unacceptable delays, the Gaming Commission has finally adopted regulations allowing raffle tickets to be sold online,” Griffo said. “These new regulations will strengthen and enhance the fundraising efforts of charities throughout the state and help them to raise the funds they desperately need.”

The new regulations will go into effect on April 13.

Senator Griffo co-sponsored the Charitable Gaming Act, which was sponsored by Senator. Patrick Gallivan, of Elma.

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