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

Chapter 74, Bingo, was adopted by the Town Board on May 1, 1978 as Chapter 12 of the 1978 Code, implementing the local voter referendum approved November 7, 1961 under Article One, Section Nine of the New York State Constitution. Section 74-2 makes it lawful for any authorized organization defined in Section 476 of Article 14-H of the General Municipal Law, upon obtaining the required state license, to conduct bingo within the Town, subject to that chapter, Article 14-H of the General Municipal Law and Article 19-B of the Executive Law.

Section 74-3 then layers on local restrictions: only a licensee under Article 14-H may conduct or lease space for a game, rent cannot be tied to a percentage of receipts, supplies and equipment must come from a licensed supplier or another authorized organization, net proceeds must go to the organization's lawful purposes, no single game's prize may exceed $1,000, and no series of prizes on one bingo occasion may total more than $3,000. Only bona fide members may manage or operate a game, none of them may be paid for that work, and no licensed supplier of bingo equipment may take part in conducting a game.

Section 74-3K requires limited-period bingo to follow Article 14-H and the State Racing and Wagering Board's rules, and Section 74-4 delegates the Town Board's licensing, hearing, investigation and fee-collection authority under General Municipal Law Section 498 to the Town Clerk.