Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions — Subtitle 6. Baltimore County
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-601 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 6. Baltimore County
§ 13–601LinkCopy Citation
In this subtitle, “gaming event” means a carnival, bazaar, or raffle.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-602 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 6. Baltimore County
§ 13–602LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This subtitle applies only in Baltimore County.
(b)
Subtitle 2 of this title applies in Baltimore County to:
(1)
except as provided in § 13-606 of this subtitle, bingo;
(2)
instant bingo;
(3)
a bona fide amateur athletic organization in which all playing members are under the age of 18 years;
(4)
a bona fide veterans’ hospital; and
(5)
a bona fide veterans’ organization.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-603 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 6. Baltimore County
§ 13–603LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Before an organization listed in subsection (b) of this section may operate a gaming event or casino event, the organization shall obtain a permit from the Department of Permits and Development Management.
(b)
(1)
An organization that meets the conditions of paragraph (2) of this subsection may conduct a gaming event or casino event if the organization is a bona fide:
(i)
religious organization;
(ii)
fraternal organization;
(iii)
civic organization, including:
(1)
a hunting organization;
(2)
a social organization; or
(3)
a sporting organization;
(iv)
volunteer fire organization;
(v)
veterans’ organization;
(vi)
veterans’ hospital;
(vii)
amateur athletic organization; or
(viii)
charitable organization.
(2)
An organization that conducts a gaming event or casino event under this section shall spend a majority of the net proceeds from the gaming event or casino event for the following in the county:
(i)
purposes that benefit religious purposes;
(ii)
fraternal purposes;
(iii)
civic purposes;
(iv)
volunteer fire operations;
(v)
purposes that benefit veterans;
(vi)
purposes that benefit a veterans’ hospital;
(vii)
purposes related to amateur athletics; or
(viii)
charitable purposes.
(c)
(1)
A permit to conduct a gaming event or casino event shall provide that only the members of the permit holder may manage the gaming event or casino event.
(2)
A permit is not transferable.
(d)
(1)
An organization that obtains a permit may award a prize of money or merchandise using:
(i)
a paddle wheel;
(ii)
a wheel of fortune;
(iii)
a chance book;
(iv)
bingo; or
(v)
any other gaming device except:
(1)
a card game;
(2)
a dice game; or
(3)
roulette.
(2)
Except as provided in § 13-604 of this subtitle, a person may not:
(i)
operate a card game, a dice game, or roulette; or
(ii)
conduct a casino event.
(3)
An organization that obtains a permit shall ensure that:
(i)
an individual or group of individuals does not benefit financially from the holding of the gaming event;
(ii)
an individual or group of individuals does not receive any of the proceeds of the gaming event for personal use or benefit; and
(iii)
the gaming event is managed personally by the members of the permit holder.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-604 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 6. Baltimore County
§ 13–604LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, an organization may conduct:
(1)
one casino event that includes a card game during each calendar month; and
(2)
one casino event that includes roulette during each calendar year.
(b)
To conduct a casino event under subsection (a) of this section, an organization shall be a bona fide:
(1)
religious organization;
(2)
fraternal organization;
(3)
civic organization, including:
(i)
a hunting organization;
(ii)
a social organization; or
(iii)
a sporting organization;
(4)
volunteer fire company;
(5)
war veterans’ organization; or
(6)
charitable organization.
(c)
(1)
A permit holder for a casino event that includes a card game or roulette shall ensure that:
(i)
the event is conducted in accordance with § 13-603(d)(3) of this subtitle;
(ii)
a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the organization sponsoring the event has not sponsored a casino event within the calendar month; and
(iii)
the casino event is conducted between 4 p.m. and 1 a.m.
(2)
A person that holds a casino event that includes a card game or roulette may not:
(i)
offer or award a money prize to a player of the card game or roulette game;
(ii)
allow a player to bet more than $10 in any one game within the calendar month;
(iii)
exchange tokens used in wagering for an item of merchandise that is worth more than $1,000; or
(iv)
exchange merchandise that was received for tokens that were used in wagering for:
(1)
money; or
(2)
an item of merchandise having a value that is different from the fair retail market value of the item of merchandise that was received for the tokens.
(3)
(i)
Within 60 days after holding a casino event that includes a card game or roulette, the holder of the permit for the event shall submit to the Department of Permits and Development Management a financial report that lists the receipts and expenditures for the casino event.
(ii)
Before the permit holder submits the report to the Department of Permits and Development Management, the permit holder shall submit the report to the county police department for review.
(d)
(1)
The Department of Permits and Development Management shall adopt regulations to govern:
(i)
the issuing of a permit to conduct a casino event; and
(ii)
the conduct and management of a casino event in a manner designed to prevent fraud and protect the public.
(2)
The regulations shall require that a separate permit be issued for each casino event to be conducted.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-605 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 6. Baltimore County
§ 13–605LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a political committee, as defined in § 1-101 of the Election Law Article, may conduct a fundraiser at which prizes of money or merchandise are awarded in a game or spin using a paddle wheel or wheel of fortune.
(b)
A political committee may award a money or merchandise prize under this section if the prize does not exceed the amount otherwise allowed for a prize in the county.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-606 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 6. Baltimore County
§ 13–606LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Before an organization may conduct bingo in the county, the organization shall obtain a bingo license from the Department of Permits and Development Management.
(b)
An organization may conduct bingo to benefit charity in the county or to further its purposes if the organization is:
(1)
a tax-supported volunteer fire company or an auxiliary unit whose members are directly associated with a tax-supported volunteer fire company;
(2)
a nationally chartered veterans’ organization or an auxiliary unit whose members are directly associated with a nationally chartered veterans’ organization;
(3)
a bona fide religious group that has conducted religious services at a fixed location in the county for at least 3 years before applying for a bingo license;
(4)
the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society;
(5)
a bona fide fraternal organization;
(6)
a bona fide patriotic organization; or
(7)
a bona fide charitable organization that has been located at a fixed location in the county for 3 years before applying for a bingo license.
(c)
(1)
An applicant for a bingo license shall apply for a license on the application form that the Department of Permits and Development Management provides.
(2)
The application shall include:
(i)
the name of the applicant;
(ii)
the name and address of each officer and director of the applicant;
(iii)
a complete statement of the purposes of the applicant;
(iv)
a statement of the purpose for which the proceeds of the bingo operation will be used;
(v)
an affidavit that an agreement does not exist to divide any part of the proceeds of the bingo operation with any other person that is made by:
(1)
the president;
(2)
the treasurer;
(3)
the chief executive; or
(4)
a fiscal officer;
(vi)
an affidavit that only the applicant or a member of the applicant will receive any of the proceeds of the bingo operation except to further the purposes of the applicant organization; and
(vii)
any other information the Department of Permits and Development Management requires.
(d)
(1)
(i)
An annual bingo license issued by the Department of Permits and Development Management authorizes the license holder to conduct bingo at the fixed location stated on the license:
(1)
at any time during the year for which the license is issued; but
(2)
not more often than twice each week in the year for which the license is issued.
(ii)
An applicant for an annual license shall pay the fee that the Department of Permits and Development Management sets.
(2)
(i)
A temporary license issued by the Department of Permits and Development Management authorizes the license holder to conduct bingo at the fixed location stated on the license for not more than 10 days in the year for which the license is issued.
(ii)
An applicant for a temporary license shall pay the fee that the administrative officer of the county sets.
(3)
(i)
A 1-day license issued by the Department of Permits and Development Management authorizes the license holder to conduct bingo at a fixed location stated on the license for not more than 1 day in the year for which the license is issued.
(ii)
An applicant for a 1-day license shall pay a fee that the administrative officer of the county sets.
(iii)
The Department of Permits and Development Management may not grant an applicant more than three 1-day licenses in any calendar year.
(e)
(1)
The Department of Permits and Development Management may require the holder of a bingo license to produce its financial records for inspection so that the Department may ensure that the license holder and the members of the license holder have complied with subsection (c)(2)(v) and (vi) of this section.
(2)
A person may not conduct bingo on Sunday.
(f)
The Department of Permits and Development Management shall deposit the fees paid for bingo licenses issued under this section in the county Widows’ Pension Fund.
(g)
After a public hearing, the Department of Permits and Development Management may revoke the license of a license holder that fails to comply with this section or the regulations that the Department adopts under this section.
(h)
The Department of Permits and Development Management may adopt regulations to govern:
(1)
the conduct of bingo;
(2)
the amounts of the prizes that may be awarded in a game of bingo;
(3)
the method of awarding prizes;
(4)
the hours that bingo may be conducted; and
(5)
any other matters related to the proper conduct of bingo.
(i)
(1)
(i)
A person may not divert or pay any proceeds of bingo conducted under a bingo license to:
(1)
any other person, except to a member of the license holder; or
(2)
any other partnership or corporation, except to further the purposes of the license holder.
(ii)
A person who is not a member of a license holder may not receive any of the proceeds of bingo conducted under a bingo license except to further the purposes of the license holder.
(iii)
A person may not violate a regulation that the Department of Permits and Development Management adopts under subsection (h) of this section.
(2)
A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 13-607 (2026)
Title 13. Gaming -- Local Provisions
Subtitle 6. Baltimore County
§ 13–607LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person may not knowingly conduct or attempt to conduct a gaming event or casino event in violation of §§ 13-603 through 13-605 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.