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

Chapter 5, Article 7 of the Revised General Ordinances, adopted by referendum in 1958 and codified at Sec. 5-74 through Sec. 5-105, authorizes bingo "pursuant to article I, section 9, of the constitution of the state" and article 14-H of the General Municipal Law (Sec. 5-75). Only an "authorized organization," defined as a bona fide religious, charitable, or nonprofit veterans' or volunteer firemen's group, may hold a license (Sec. 5-76). Applicants file a verified application with the city clerk naming the members responsible for running the game (Sec.

5-78). The city clerk investigates each applicant and, if qualified, issues the license for a fee of ten dollars per occasion, deposited with the commissioner of finance (Sec. 5-82); no license runs longer than one year (Sec. 5-83), and the clerk sends the state comptroller fifty percent of collected fees by the 30th of each month (Sec. 5-86). Prizes are capped at $250 for any single game and $1,000 aggregate per occasion (Sec. 5-79(e), (f); reaffirmed in Sec. 5-80). 00 (Sec. 5-92), no alcohol may be sold or served where a game is played (Sec.

5-94), games run no more than six days per calendar month (Sec. 5-95), and players under 18 need an accompanying adult (Sec. 5-96). The police department assists the city clerk in supervising licensed games and both may inspect premises at any time (Sec. 5-98). Separately, Chapter 11, Sec. 11-2 authorizes "games of chance" under General Municipal Law Article 9-A for licensed organizations, an authorization the common council put to Syracuse voters, who approved it by referendum before it took effect (Ord. No. 117-1978); Sec. 11-3 further permits those games of chance to be conducted on Sundays.