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Clarkstown, NY Gambling & Gaming: Charitable Bingo and Raffles (2026)

Significant Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

License issued by: Town Clerk
Governing state law: General Municipal Law Article 9-A
Admission cap: $2 per person (§ 102-15D)
Blackout dates: Easter, Christmas, N.Y. Eve, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur
Alcohol allowed: beer only, no other alcohol (§ 102-13B)
Minimum player age: 18 (§ 102-15A)
Unlicensed conduct penalty: misdemeanor (§ 102-15K)

Summary

Charitable and religious organizations running bingo or games of chance in Clarkstown must get a license from the Town Clerk under Town Code Chapter 102, conducted per General Municipal Law Article 9-A. Admission is capped at $2, play is barred on Easter, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and only players 18 or older may participate.

§ 102-9. Restrictions on conduct of games.
B. The conduct of games of chance on Sunday is only permitted when it is specifically provided for in the license issued. No games of chance, however, shall be conducted on Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur.
§ 102-15. Prohibitions; penalties for offenses.
A. No person under the age of eighteen (18) years shall be permitted to play any game of chance conducted pursuant to any license issued under this Article in accordance with the provisions of § 195-a of the General Municipal Law.
D. Not more than two dollars ($2.) shall be charged by any licensee for admission to any room or place in which any games of chance are to be conducted under any license issued under this Article.
K. The unauthorized conduct of a game of chance shall constitute and be punishable as a misdemeanor.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Chapter 102, Article I, known as the "Bingo Ordinance of the Town of Clarkstown" (§ 102-1), requires bingo to be conducted per General Municipal Law § 479 (§ 102-2). § 102-14B requires the licensee to pay the Town Clerk 5% of net proceeds as an administrative fee within seven days of the licensed period's end.

Violations & Fines

§ 102-15A bars anyone under 18 from playing a licensed game of chance. § 102-15D caps admission charges at $2 per person. § 102-15K makes unauthorized conduct of a game of chance a misdemeanor, and § 102-15G makes violating GML § 195-j a misdemeanor that forfeits the organization's license and bars it from reapplying for at least one year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who issues a charity bingo or games-of-chance license in Clarkstown?

The Town Clerk, who under § 102-6 holds the licensing authority the Town Board delegated under General Municipal Law Article 9-A, including issuing, amending and canceling licenses and collecting fees from authorized organizations.

How much can a Clarkstown charity charge for admission to a game of chance?

No more than $2 per person under § 102-15D, and every winner must be determined and every prize awarded on the same calendar day the game was played.

Can a Clarkstown charity run bingo on Christmas or New Year's Eve?

No. § 102-9B bars conducting games of chance on Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur regardless of what the license otherwise permits.

Is alcohol allowed at a licensed games-of-chance event in Clarkstown?

Only beer. § 102-13B permits beer sales during licensed games of chance but prohibits all other alcoholic beverages, and § 102-15J separately bars giving any alcoholic beverage as a prize.

Sources & Official References

[1]Clarkstown Code Chapter 102, Bingo and Games of Chance

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