Update: State police said small games of chance are illegal unless conducted by a not-for-profit organization.
They encourage Facebook users that encounter these groups to verify the group is hosted by a not-for-profit agency before proceeding.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board suggests contacting state police or the attorney general's office if you encounter a group you think is suspicious or may be hosting gambling in a for-profit capacity on Facebook.
Original: CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) -- Two Cambria County women are facing charges for creating a Facebook gambling group, state police say.
Brittany Winings, 32, of Northern Cambria, and Tiffany Dupas, 26, of Hastings, are facing several misdemeanor charges related to gambling devices, allowing gambling and inviting someone to gamble.
Troopers say they received a referral in June from the Bureau of Liquor Control about an illegal Facebook lottery/gambling group being operated by two Cambria County women.
According to the criminal complaint, troopers received screenshots of and multiple complaints regarding the “BID WIN SAVE” Facebook group, which was bidding off prizes to those who paid for bidding spots.
Troopers say the group allowed only for a specific number of spots and once all of the spots were filled, a wheel was spun, and a winner chosen.
State police say they began monitoring the group in July, found that the page was created in May and Dupas and Winings were the only administrators.
Prizes ranged from cash, lottery tickets, electronics, furniture, gift cards, kitchen supplies, tools, heating oil and more, the complaint says.
Dupas and Winings made between $40 and $60 for every post and would also incentivize the group members to invite others to join the group, the complaint says.
Troopers say at one point the group had over 2,000 members.
Winings and Dupas received a combined total of $81,507 in payments between May and July, troopers say.
ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfZ3qkrcybqaKZXZi8trrTsmSwp52au26vx5qpoJ2UYrOwvoyop56qkam2r7OMn5icnZKkvKx5xpqkm6SZo7Rus9GorKllpKe8sLzEq6o%3D