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

Chapter 95, adopted by the Council on July 9, 1958 and ratified by city voters that November, authorizes bingo under Section 95-2 for authorized organizations licensed by the City's Commissioner of Licenses, subject to Article 14-H of the General Municipal Law and the State Lottery Control Law. Applicants file a verified written application under Section 95-4 naming the members responsible for running the games, and the Commissioner of Licenses and the Chief Inspector of Police investigate the applicant before a license issues, per Section 95-5, for a fee of $10 per game occasion paid to the City Comptroller; the City remits half of collected fees to the State Comptroller monthly.

Section 95-3 bars anyone but a licensee from conducting or hosting bingo, forbids rent tied to a percentage of receipts, and requires all net proceeds to go to the organization's lawful purposes with no compensation paid to volunteers except bookkeepers and accountants. ; Section 95-9 bars anyone under 18 from playing unless accompanied by an adult; and Section 95-10 limits play to six days per calendar month and bars alcohol sales or service during play. Section 95-12 caps admission at $1 and prizes at $250 per game and $1,000 aggregate per occasion. Section 95-13 restricts advertising to a single 60-square-foot sign at the venue and one at the prize display location.