New York, NY Gambling & Gaming: Charitable Bingo and Raffles (2026)
Key Facts
- License fee (conductor)
- $25 per license period
- License fee (hall lessor)
- $50
- Single-game prize cap
- $100
- Per-occasion prize cap
- $1,000
- Max occasions per year
- 12
- Minimum age to play or help run
- 18
- Max fine for violations
- $1,000 after hearing
Summary
New York City licenses bona fide charitable, religious, educational and veterans' groups to run games of chance under its own Games of Chance Licensing Law. A city license costs $25, prizes are capped at $100 per game and $1,000 per occasion, and games are limited to 12 occasions a year.
and that except for raffles conducted during professional and collegiate sporting competitions at sports venues, which shall be subject to the limitations set forth in section 189 of the general municipal law, no prize will be given in excess of the sum or value of one hundred dollars in any single game and that the aggregate of all prizes given on one occasion, under said license shall not exceed the sum or value of one thousand dollars, the department shall issue a license to the applicant for the conduct of games of chance upon payment of a license fee of twenty-five dollars for each license period.
Full Breakdown
New York City adopted its own games of chance scheme in Administrative Code Title 20, Subchapter 26 (§§ 20-433 to 20-450), separate from the state bingo law. Only an "authorized organization" qualifies: a bona fide religious, charitable, educational, veterans' or volunteer firefighter group that has served its charitable purpose for at least three years and devotes at least 75% of its activity to purposes other than gaming (§ 20-435). Political parties are barred outright. To get licensed, the organization files an application with the department naming at least four active members who will run the games and certify responsibility for them (§ 20-437).
The department investigates each applicant, and if it finds the organization qualified, its members of good moral character with no unpardoned convictions, and confirms no single game will award a prize over $100 or an occasion's prizes over $1,000, it issues a license good for up to one year on payment of a $25 fee per license period; a lessor who rents its hall to a licensed organization pays $50 (§ 20-438). into Friday/Saturday and Saturday/Sunday nights, and never on Easter, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur (§ 20-443).
No one under 18 may play, operate or assist in conducting a game (§ 20-442), admission cannot exceed $2 except where the department sets a different minimum, and no alcoholic beverage may be given as a prize (§ 20-445). Advertising the location, time or prizes of a game by newspaper, radio, TV, billboard or handbill is banned outside limited raffle exceptions (§ 20-446).
Violations & Fines
The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection inspects every licensed game on-site while it is running (§ 20-441). After notice and a hearing, the department and the state gaming commission may suspend or revoke a license and impose a fine of up to $1,000 for any violation of the subchapter or its rules. Operating without a license, letting an unqualified organization run the games, or exceeding the prize or frequency caps are grounds for that suspension, revocation and fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can hold a games-of-chance license in NYC?
How big can the prizes be?
How often can an organization run games?
Can minors take part?
What happens if a licensee breaks the rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New York
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