(AP) -- COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Charities and other nonprofits could legally hold raffles in South Carolina if voters say "yes" under measures heading to the Senate.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 18-4 on Tuesday to advance a proposed constitutional amendment that would ask voters whether charity raffles by schools, churches, law enforcement and community nonprofits should be legal. The committee then voted to advance a bill that would set the rules, should voters say "yes" in 2012.
It would allow nonprofits to hold up to four raffles yearly and two "casino nights." But games won in so-called casino nights would award raffle tickets, not money, to go into pots for prizes.
The only legal raffle is the state lottery.
Legislators delayed debating other bills to loosen 1802 gambling laws that bar card and dice games.
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