Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions — Subtitle 13. Frederick County
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-1301 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 13. Frederick County
§ 13–1301LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Gaming event” includes:
(1)
a bazaar;
(2)
a carnival;
(3)
a raffle;
(4)
a tip jar; and
(5)
a punchboard.
(c)
“Tip jar” includes an electronic tip jar dispenser that does not connect to the Internet or to a server.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-1302 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 13. Frederick County
§ 13–1302LinkCopy Citation
This subtitle applies only in Frederick County.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-1303 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 13. Frederick County
§ 13–1303LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Subtitle 2 of this title applies in Frederick County.
(b)
A gaming event under Subtitle 2 of this title is subject to the requirements of this subtitle.
(c)
In addition to the qualified organizations listed in Subtitle 2 of this title, the following organizations and their auxiliaries may conduct activities governed by that subtitle:
(1)
a volunteer fire company;
(2)
a volunteer rescue company; and
(3)
a volunteer ambulance company.
(d)
Subtitle 2 of this title also regulates any gaming device, including a:
(1)
chance book;
(2)
tip jar;
(3)
paddle wheel; and
(4)
wheel of fortune.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-1304 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 13. Frederick County
§ 13–1304LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Before an organization listed in subsection (b) of this section may conduct a gaming event, the organization shall obtain a permit from the county Department of Permits and Inspections.
(b)
An organization may conduct a gaming event for its own benefit if the organization is:
(1)
a bona fide:
(i)
religious organization;
(ii)
fraternal organization;
(iii)
civic organization;
(iv)
war veterans’ organization;
(v)
hospital;
(vi)
amateur athletic organization;
(vii)
patriotic organization;
(viii)
educational organization; or
(ix)
charitable organization;
(2)
a Frederick County volunteer:
(i)
fire company;
(ii)
rescue company; or
(iii)
ambulance company; or
(3)
an auxiliary for a Frederick County volunteer:
(i)
fire company;
(ii)
rescue company; or
(iii)
ambulance company.
(c)
(1)
Before the county Department of Permits and Inspections may issue a gaming permit, the county Department of Permits and Inspections shall determine whether the organization applying for the gaming permit meets the requirements of this section.
(2)
An application and the action that the county Department of Permits and Inspections takes on the application are public records.
(d)
(1)
(i)
A gaming permit is valid for 1 year after the date that it is issued.
(ii)
A gaming permit may not be transferred.
(2)
Frederick County may charge a permit fee.
(e)
(1)
Only members of an organization that holds a gaming permit may conduct the gaming event.
(2)
Except as allowed under § 13–1305 of this subtitle, an individual may not benefit financially from a gaming event.
(3)
A gaming permit authorizes a gaming event to be conducted on a Sunday during the hours of sale for the alcoholic beverages sold at the establishment where the gaming event is conducted.
(f)
(1)
The holder of a gaming permit may award:
(i)
prizes to individuals at a gaming event; and
(ii)
only one major prize at each gaming event.
(2)
During each calendar year, the holder of a gaming event, including a raffle for which the prize drawings are held on a single day, may not hold or receive the proceeds from more than four gaming events in which the major prize has a value of more than $5,000.
(3)
During each calendar year, the holder of a gaming event may hold one raffle in which prize drawings are held on more than a single day if the major prize has a value of $5,000 or less.
(4)
Frederick County may regulate the number of permits to conduct a raffle that an organization may receive in 1 calendar year.
(g)
Frederick County may adopt regulations to carry out this section and §§ 13–1305 and 13–1307 of this subtitle.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-1304.1 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 13. Frederick County
§ 13–1304.1LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Casino event” includes the play of card games, dice games, and roulette.
(3)
“Permit” means a permit to conduct a card game, card tournament, or casino event.
(b)
Before an organization may conduct a card game, card tournament, or casino event, the organization shall obtain a permit from the County Department of Permits and Inspections.
(c)
To qualify for a permit, an organization shall be a bona fide:
(1)
amateur athletic organization;
(2)
charitable organization;
(3)
civic organization;
(4)
fraternal organization;
(5)
hospital;
(6)
religious organization;
(7)
volunteer fire company; or
(8)
war veterans’ organization.
(d)
(1)
A card game, card tournament, or casino event may be:
(i)
managed and operated by the organization that is the permit holder; or
(ii)
managed by the organization that is the permit holder and operated by another organization listed in subsection (c) of this section.
(2)
(i)
An operator of a card game, card tournament, or casino event may not receive compensation.
(ii)
To volunteer as an operator of a card game, card tournament, or casino event, an individual shall be at least 18 years old.
(iii)
To participate in a card game, card tournament, or casino event, an individual shall be at least 21 years old.
(e)
(1)
An organization that is the permit holder may receive not more than four permits in a calendar year.
(2)
A card game, card tournament, or casino event may not last longer than 24 consecutive hours.
(f)
A permit is not transferable.
(g)
(1)
Proceeds from a card game, card tournament, or casino event conducted under this section:
(i)
shall be used to benefit a charity or to further the purpose of the permit holder; and
(ii)
except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, may not be used for the financial benefit or personal use of an individual or a group of individuals.
(2)
On approval of the County Executive or designee of the County Executive, proceeds may be used to benefit a family with medical needs.
(h)
A permit may not authorize the operation of a card game, card tournament, or casino event after 1 a.m. on Sunday.
(i)
(1)
An organization that is the permit holder may charge only a preset entrance fee for a card game, card tournament, or casino event.
(2)
Participants in a card game, card tournament, or casino event shall receive tokens for wagering in exchange for the entrance fee.
(3)
A participant may purchase additional tokens, at a total cost not exceeding 100% of the entrance fee, during a card game, card tournament, or casino event.
(4)
An organization that is the permit holder may not allow cash to be used for wagering.
(j)
An organization that is the permit holder may not exchange tokens used for wagering for:
(1)
an item of merchandise that is worth more than $10,000;
(2)
money; or
(3)
an item of merchandise having a value that is different from the fair market retail value of the item of merchandise that was received for the tokens.
(k)
Within 60 days after holding a card game, card tournament, or casino event, the organization that is the permit holder shall submit to the County Department of Permits and Inspections:
(1)
a financial report that lists the receipts and expenditures for the card game, card tournament, or casino event; and
(2)
the name, address, and Social Security number of a participant that is declared the winner at a card game, card tournament, or casino event of a prize for which the issuance of Internal Revenue Service Form W–2G or a substantially equivalent form is required.
(l)
An organization that is found to have violated this section is ineligible to receive a permit under this section for a period of 5 years.
(m)
The County Executive may adopt regulations to carry out this section, including regulations to govern:
(1)
the issuing of permits; and
(2)
the conduct and management of a card game, card tournament, or casino event in a manner to prevent fraud and protect the public.
(n)
The County Council may adopt regulations to govern permit fees under this section.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-1305 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 13. Frederick County
§ 13–1305LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
To operate a tip jar or punchboard in the county, an establishment or proprietor must be licensed to serve food and alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises.
(2)
The operator of a tip jar shall display conspicuously a gaming permit issued to the beneficiary of the tip jar under § 13–1304 of this subtitle.
(3)
The operator of a punchboard shall display within the establishment a gaming permit issued to the beneficiary of the punchboard under § 13–1304 of this subtitle.
(b)
(1)
A person may operate a tip jar or punchboard in the county only for the benefit of one of the following organizations located in the county:
(i)
a bona fide:
(1)
religious organization;
(2)
fraternal organization;
(3)
civic organization;
(4)
war veterans’ organization;
(5)
hospital;
(6)
amateur athletic organization;
(7)
patriotic organization;
(8)
charitable organization; or
(9)
educational organization;
(ii)
a Frederick County volunteer:
(1)
fire company;
(2)
rescue company; or
(3)
ambulance company; or
(iii)
an auxiliary of a Frederick County volunteer:
(1)
fire company;
(2)
rescue company; or
(3)
ambulance company.
(2)
The beneficiary of a tip jar may not hold more than three permits to operate tip jars or punchboards outside of the beneficiary’s premises.
(c)
(1)
The beneficiary of a tip jar or punchboard must receive at least 70% of the gross proceeds of the tip jar or punchboard after paying winning players and reimbursing the operator for operating expenses.
(2)
For each tip jar or punchboard operated, the operator shall submit to the county agency that issued the gaming permit monthly reports detailing:
(i)
gross proceeds;
(ii)
prizes;
(iii)
expenses; and
(iv)
the amount paid to the beneficiary.
(d)
The tip jar or punchboard shall be purchased from a distributor that:
(1)
has an office in the State;
(2)
is licensed by the county Department of Permits and Inspections; and
(3)
keeps the records that Frederick County requires.
(e)
A person who keeps records about tip jars or punchboards shall make those records available for inspection and copying by a law enforcement unit or by the county Department of Permits and Inspections.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-1306 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 13. Frederick County
§ 13–1306LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person authorized to conduct bingo under this subtitle shall obtain a bingo permit from the county Department of Permits and Inspections.
(b)
Any of the following organizations, if a legal resident of the county, may conduct bingo to benefit charity in the county or to further the purposes of one of the following organizations:
(1)
a bona fide:
(i)
religious organization;
(ii)
fraternal organization;
(iii)
patriotic organization;
(iv)
educational organization;
(v)
civic organization;
(vi)
war veterans’ organization;
(vii)
hospital;
(viii)
amateur athletic organization; or
(ix)
charitable organization;
(2)
a volunteer:
(i)
fire company;
(ii)
rescue company; or
(iii)
ambulance company; or
(3)
an auxiliary for a volunteer:
(i)
fire company;
(ii)
rescue company; or
(iii)
ambulance company.
(c)
(1)
A person who is not a legal resident of Frederick County may not conduct bingo.
(2)
Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, each year the Frederick County Agricultural Association may sell or lease a right or concession to any person to conduct bingo at the Frederick County Fair.
(d)
(1)
To qualify for a bingo permit, a person shall meet the requirements set by Frederick County.
(2)
The county may require an applicant for a bingo permit to pay a permit fee set by the county.
(e)
A person who conducts bingo may not offer or award:
(1)
a prize or award with a fair market value exceeding $5,000; or
(2)
a money prize exceeding $5,000.
(f)
Frederick County may adopt regulations to carry out this section.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-1307 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 13. Frederick County
§ 13–1307LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person may not knowingly violate § 13-1304 or § 13-1305 of this subtitle.
(b)
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.