Brookhaven, NY Gambling & Gaming: Charitable Bingo and Raffles (2026)
Key Facts
- Max sessions per year
- 12 games of chance per organization
- Allowed hours
- Noon-midnight weekdays; later on weekends
- Minimum age to play
- 18 years old
- License term
- No more than one year
- Licensing agency
- Town Clerk
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine, up to 1 year jail
Summary
Brookhaven licenses charitable, religious, educational and veterans' organizations to run games of chance under Town Code Chapter 34, adopted pursuant to the state's General Municipal Law Article 9-A. The Town Clerk issues the license, caps play at 12 sessions a year, and restricts hours, prize size and who may run the tables.
I. No games of chance shall be conducted by an authorized organization more than 12 times in a calendar year. J. No games of chance shall be conducted except between the hours of 12:00 noon and 12:00 midnight, Monday through Thursday, and between the hours of 12:00 noon Friday and 2:00 a.m. Saturday, as well as between the hours of 12:00 noon Saturday and 2:00 a.m. Sunday. The Town Clerk may issue a license to allow games of chance to be conducted on any day of the week, including Sunday, between the hours of 12:00 noon and midnight. Games of chance will not be allowed to be held at any other times. ... L. No person under the age of 18 years shall be allowed to participate in the games, take part in the management of the games or be allowed on the premises during the conduct of the games.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4966897; v79 updated 2026-05-28; through 05-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 34, Games of Chance, adopted in 1987, licenses bona fide religious, charitable, educational, veterans' or volunteer firefighters' organizations that have operated for at least three years to raise funds for charitable purposes through numbers-and-symbols games of chance; it excludes bingo, lotto, slot machines and bookmaking, which are covered separately. An applicant organization files a verified application with the Town Clerk naming at least four bona fide members responsible for running the games, and the Clerk investigates each applicant's qualifications, including whether members have criminal convictions, before issuing a license good for no more than one year.
m. m. Sunday, though the Clerk may license any day, including Sunday, from noon to midnight; only beer, not other alcohol, may be sold during play; and no one under 18 may play, help run the games, or even be on the premises. All net proceeds must go to the organization's lawful purpose, and prize and wager amounts are capped at the levels General Municipal Law Section 189 authorizes. The Town Clerk remits 50% of hall-lessor license fees plus $15 per license period to the State Comptroller by the 30th of each month.
Violations & Fines
Section 34-12 makes any violation of Chapter 34 a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to a year of incarceration, or both. A convicted organization also forfeits its license and is barred from applying for a new one for at least five years from the date of forfeiture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can get a license to run games of chance in Brookhaven?
How often can an organization hold a games-of-chance night?
Can minors be present at a games-of-chance event?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brookhaven
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