Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions — Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-501 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
§ 13–501LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Commissioner” means the Baltimore City Police Commissioner.
(c)
“Designated city agency” means an agency designated by the Baltimore City government.
(d)
(1)
“Electronic device” means a device that is capable of transmitting, receiving, or recording messages, images, sounds, data, or other information by electronic means or that, in appearance, purports to be a cell phone, computer, or other such device.
(2)
“Electronic device” includes a cell phone or computer.
(3)
“Electronic device” does not include a video lottery terminal as defined under § 9–1A–01 of the State Government Article.
(e)
“Gaming event” means a carnival, bazaar, or raffle.
(f)
(1)
“Geofence” means technology that establishes a virtual geographical boundary.
(2)
“Geofence” includes boundaries that are established or monitored through the use of:
(i)
global positioning technology;
(ii)
cell tower connectivity;
(iii)
cellular data;
(iv)
radio frequency identification;
(v)
wireless fidelity technology; or
(vi)
any other form of location determination technology.
(g)
“Raffle” means one or more drawings from a single series of chances sold.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-502 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
§ 13–502LinkCopy Citation
This subtitle applies only in Baltimore City.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-503 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
§ 13–503LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This section does not apply to a raffle authorized under § 13–505.1 of this subtitle.
(b)
Before an organization listed in subsection (c) of this section may operate a gaming event, the organization shall obtain a permit from the commissioner.
(c)
(1)
An organization that meets the conditions of paragraph (2) of this subsection may conduct a gaming event for the benefit of any of the following listed organizations if the organization is a bona fide:
(i)
religious organization;
(ii)
fraternal organization;
(iii)
civic organization;
(iv)
veterans’ hospital;
(v)
amateur athletic organization in which all playing members are under the age of 18 years; or
(vi)
charitable organization.
(2)
An organization conducting a gaming event shall:
(i)
be located in Baltimore City; and
(ii)
spend a majority of the organization’s funds in Baltimore City for:
(1)
fraternal purposes;
(2)
civic purposes;
(3)
purposes related to a veterans’ hospital;
(4)
purposes related to amateur athletics; or
(5)
charitable purposes.
(d)
(1)
Before the commissioner may issue a permit, the commissioner shall review the character of the organization applying for the permit to ascertain that the organization meets the requirements of §§ 13–503 through 13–505 of this subtitle.
(2)
The commissioner shall make any application for a permit and the action taken by the commissioner on that application a matter of public record.
(e)
(1)
The permit shall state that the gaming event shall be managed and operated personally only by members of the organization obtaining the permit.
(2)
The permit is not transferable.
(f)
An organization conducting a gaming event in Baltimore City may not allow an individual or group of individuals to:
(1)
benefit financially from the gaming event; or
(2)
receive any of the proceeds of the gaming event for personal use or benefit.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-504 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
§ 13–504LinkCopy Citation
An organization conducting a gaming event may award a prize of money or merchandise to any individual in any amount in one game or spin using:
(1)
a paddle wheel or wheel of fortune; or
(2)
a film of a horse race.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-505 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
§ 13–505LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A permit holder may award prizes in merchandise and money in a raffle in any amount.
(b)
Except as provided in § 13–505.1(d)(1)(ii) of this subtitle, a permit holder may not conduct more than 12 raffles in a calendar year.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-505.1 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
§ 13–505.1LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A raffle may be conducted by an organization that:
(1)
is located in Baltimore City;
(2)
spends a majority of the organization’s funds in Baltimore City for:
(i)
fraternal purposes;
(ii)
civic purposes;
(iii)
purposes related to a veterans’ hospital;
(iv)
purposes related to amateur athletics; or
(v)
charitable purposes; and
(3)
is affiliated with:
(i)
a professional Major League Baseball team that plays its home games in Baltimore City; or
(ii)
a professional National Football League team that plays its home games in Baltimore City.
(b)
(1)
Before conducting a raffle, an organization shall obtain a written permit from the designated city agency.
(2)
Before issuing a permit, the designated city agency shall ascertain the character of the organization to determine if the permit should be issued.
(c)
(1)
A permit issued to an organization under this section may not be transferred.
(2)
The permit shall state that the raffle is required to be managed and operated only by members of the organization obtaining the permit.
(d)
(1)
(i)
Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the designated city agency may issue a single permit to an organization to hold raffles at multiple professional Major League Baseball or professional National Football League games played in Baltimore City.
(ii)
There is no limit on the number of raffles that an organization may conduct in conjunction with professional Major League Baseball or professional National Football League games played in Baltimore City.
(2)
A permit to hold raffles at multiple professional Major League Baseball or professional National Football League games played in Baltimore City expires 1 year after the date on which the permit is issued.
(e)
An organization conducting a raffle may:
(1)
set the price of raffle tickets; and
(2)
award prizes in merchandise and money in any amount.
(f)
An organization conducting a raffle may not allow an individual or group of individuals to:
(1)
benefit financially from the raffle; or
(2)
receive any of the proceeds of the raffle for personal use or benefit.
(g)
(1)
A raffle ticket sold by an organization in conjunction with a professional Major League Baseball or professional National Football League game played in Baltimore City:
(i)
may only be sold using age–verification measures to ensure that the buyer is at least 18 years old;
(ii)
may be sold and received in–person or on an electronic device only within the geographical boundaries described in paragraph (2) of this subsection; and
(iii)
(1)
with respect to a raffle conducted by an organization described under subsection (a)(3)(i) of this section, shall be sold and received not earlier than 1 hour before the official start of the baseball game and not later than the seventh inning of that baseball game; or
(2)
with respect to a raffle conducted by an organization described under subsection (a)(3)(ii) of this section, shall be sold and received not earlier than 4.5 hours before the official start of the football game and not later than the third quarter of that football game.
(2)
An organization conducting a raffle under this section:
(i)
is not subject to § 12–108 of this article, provided that an individual may not purchase more than $50 worth of tickets or make more than one credit transaction each day; and
(ii)
shall use a geofence to ensure that raffle tickets sold and received on an electronic device are sold and received within an area in Baltimore City that is bounded as follows:
(1)
with respect to a raffle conducted by an organization described under subsection (a)(3)(i) of this section during a baseball game, from the intersection of West Camden Street and South Howard Street, south on South Howard Street to West Conway Street, west on West Conway Street to South Eutaw Street, south on South Eutaw Street to West Lee Street, west on West Lee Street to Russell Street, north on Russell Street to South Paca Street, northeast on South Paca Street to West Camden Street, and east on West Camden Street to the intersection of West Camden Street and South Howard Street; and
(2)
with respect to a raffle conducted by an organization described under subsection (a)(3)(ii) of this section during a football game, from the intersection of West Camden Street and South Howard Street, west on West Camden Street to Washington Boulevard, southwest on Washington Boulevard to West Barre Street, south on West Barre Street to Carroll Street, northeast on Carroll Street to South Paca Street, south on South Paca Street to West Ostend Street, including the southern boundary of 701 West Ostend Street, east on the southern boundary of 701 West Ostend Street to Ridgely Street, north on Ridgely Street to the intersection of West Ostend Street and Ridgely Street, east on West Ostend Street to Cal Ripken Way, north on Cal Ripken Way to South Howard Street, and north on South Howard Street to the intersection of South Howard Street and West Camden Street.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-506 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
§ 13–506LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title or Title 12 of this article, a political committee as defined in § 1-101 of the Election Law Article may conduct a fundraiser at which prizes of merchandise or money are awarded in a game or spin using a paddle wheel or wheel of fortune.
(b)
A political committee may award a prize of merchandise or money at a fundraiser that does not exceed the amount otherwise allowed for a prize in Baltimore City.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-507 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
§ 13–507LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This section and § 13-509 of this subtitle also apply to games of instant bingo.
(b)
Before an organization listed in subsection (c) or (d) of this section may conduct bingo in Baltimore City, the organization shall obtain a permit to do so from the commissioner.
(c)
An organization that meets the conditions of subsection (i)(1) of this section may conduct bingo in Baltimore City if the organization is a bona fide:
(1)
religious organization;
(2)
fraternal organization;
(3)
patriotic organization;
(4)
educational organization; or
(5)
charitable organization.
(d)
An organization that meets the conditions of subsection (i)(2) of this section may conduct bingo in Baltimore City if the organization is:
(1)
devoted exclusively to religious, charitable, or educational purposes;
(2)
a service organization;
(3)
a fraternal organization; or
(4)
a veterans’ organization.
(e)
(1)
Before the commissioner may issue a permit, the commissioner shall review the character of the organization applying for the permit to ascertain that the organization meets the requirements of this section.
(2)
The organization applying for the permit shall pay the permit fee set in subsection (g) of this section.
(3)
An application for a permit and the action taken by the commissioner on that application are public records.
(f)
The commissioner may issue a permit for:
(1)
1 day; or
(2)
a period exceeding 1 day and not exceeding 12 months.
(g)
Except as allowed under subsection (h)(1) of this section, the commissioner shall collect from each permit holder, to cover the costs of administering the Baltimore City bingo laws, a permit fee not exceeding:
(1)
$10 for each day on which bingo may be conducted;
(2)
$750 for a 3-month period; or
(3)
$3,000 for a 12-month period.
(h)
(1)
The commissioner may collect a special annual permit fee of $5 for a nonprofit organization or nonprofit corporation to conduct, over 1 year, a number of bingo games for which, for each game:
(i)
the value of any prize of merchandise or money is not more than $5; and
(ii)
not more than 100 individuals play.
(2)
The commissioner may revoke a special annual permit for cause.
(i)
(1)
An organization conducting bingo in Baltimore City under subsection (c) of this section:
(i)
except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, may not offer or award, in any game:
(1)
a money prize of more than $45; or
(2)
a prize of merchandise worth more than $45; and
(ii)
after reimbursing any costs incurred in conducting bingo for personnel, supplies, equipment, and other expenses, shall use the entire proceeds for:
(1)
charitable purposes; or
(2)
to further the purposes of an organization listed in subsection (c) of this section.
(2)
An organization conducting bingo in Baltimore City under subsection (d) of this section:
(i)
may not use the net proceeds to benefit a stockholder or member of the organization;
(ii)
after reimbursing any costs incurred in conducting bingo for personnel, supplies, equipment, and other expenses, shall use the net proceeds:
(1)
solely for charitable purposes; or
(2)
to further the purposes of an organization listed in subsection (d) of this section; and
(iii)
shall limit prizes of money or merchandise to a value not exceeding:
(1)
$5,000 for the total of all prizes;
(2)
$75 for the total of all door prizes;
(3)
$45 for each of not more than five early bird games;
(4)
$75 for each of not more than 19 regular games;
(5)
$150 for the starting prize of one regular game with a jackpot, with nightly increases not exceeding $75 and a consolation prize not exceeding $75;
(6)
$150 for each of not more than four regular special games;
(7)
50% of the proceeds for each of not more than four split-the-pot games;
(8)
100% of the proceeds for not more than one winner-take-all game;
(9)
$3,000 for a jackpot game which starts at 50 numbers and adds one number every second night;
(10)
if the jackpot is not won, $375 for a consolation prize for any jackpot game;
(11)
$300 for the first jackpot game in a buildup jackpot game which starts at $300 and 50 numbers and adds one number and $75 each night; and
(12)
if the jackpot is not won, $225 for the consolation prize for any buildup jackpot game.
(3)
A bingo permit holder issued a permit under either subsection (c) or (d) of this section may not conduct bingo:
(i)
in a restaurant or tavern where alcoholic beverages are sold;
(ii)
in a permanent place of amusement or entertainment; or
(iii)
on Sunday, except by a bona fide religious organization that conducts bingo on property owned or leased by the organization.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-508 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
§ 13–508LinkCopy Citation
Notwithstanding § 13-507 of this subtitle, an organization may conduct bingo if:
(1)
the membership of the organization consists only of individuals who are at least 60 years old;
(2)
the organization was formed primarily for social purposes;
(3)
all proceeds of the games of bingo are used only to further the purposes of the organization; and
(4)
the organization complies with the permit procedures and conditions imposed under § 13-507 of this subtitle.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-509 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
§ 13–509LinkCopy Citation
The commissioner may adopt regulations reasonably necessary to administer § 13-507 of this subtitle.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-510 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 5. Baltimore City
§ 13–510LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person may not knowingly conduct or attempt to conduct a bazaar or raffle in violation of §§ 13–503 through 13–505 and 13–505.1 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.