Please be advised the Harford County Sheriff’s Office is utilizing an online system enabling you to submit gambling applications, pay for them electronically via credit card, and receive the licenses electronically.
Please submit gambling license applications electronically on the GovQuest website at app.govquest.com. Click “Sign In” on the top right of the main page, and you will be given the option to create a free account with a secure password, or you can log-in if an account has already been made. From there, you will choose the “Gambling Application” option, which will bring you to the application. Your account will enable you to:
- Receive notifications regarding the status of your application as it is being processed;
- Communicate directly with the agency regarding questions about your application;
- Download your license and save them in your account;
- Review your purchase history;
- Pay for your licenses online.
Applications must be submitted at least 10 business days prior to the event date and/or ticket sales. If not, then the application will be denied. Please note that there must be 1 application submitted for each license. We will no longer accept 1 application per event if there are multiple licenses needed (i.e. If your event is having a bingo and a raffle, then 2 separate applications must be submitted).
Cost of Gambling Licenses:
- Bingo and/or 1-day Instant Bingo is $5.00 per event.
- Raffle is $10.00 (includes Quarter Auctions & Games of 50/50).
- Paddle Wheel is $10.00
- Paddle with Bingo and/or 1-day Instant Bingo is $10.00
- Instant Bingo “members only” (3 months) is $15.00
Payment will be made when the license is ready to be released, and each license will be
charged an additional service fee that goes to the credit card company and the website vendor.
Who Can Apply for a Gambling License:
- Tax-supported volunteer fire company
- State chartered organization authorized by a nationally chartered veteran’s organization
- Bona fide religious group which has conducted religious services at a fixed location in Harford County for a period of at least 3 years
- Non-profit organization raising money for an exclusively charitable, athletic, or educational purpose
After the Date of Licensed Event
- Please return the bottom half of the license within 15 days after the end of the licensed gaming event. Bottom half of license must be completed with gross amount of cash proceeds (#3 (1)) and disposition of those proceeds (#4). This information is required by law and an organization that fails to file a report is not entitled to another license until the latter of one year after the report is due, or the day the report is filed properly. You can email the report to hcsogamblinglicense@harfordsheriff.org
- For further information on the State and local Gaming Laws please consult Maryland Law through https://advance.lexis.com/. You will find gambling under Maryland Code, Criminal Law, Titles 12 and 13.
Casino Night Licenses
Maryland Criminal Law, Annotated Code Title 13 Subtitle 15 contains the laws for Casino Night Licenses. To obtain a Casino Night License, organizations must fit both of the following criteria:
- Nonprofit under § 501(c)(3) or (19) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
- Has been in Harford County for at least 3 years prior to applying for the license
To be issued a license, the organization must complete an application, state on the application the purpose for which the proceeds will be used and pay the fee that the Sheriff determines. Please click here to obtain an application.
An organization may not hold more than 4 Casino Nights in a calendar year. The Casino Night can only be held between the hours of 4pm and 1am in a structure or at a location that is owned, rented, or leased by the holder of the license. The license is not transferable. A separate application and license are required for each Casino Night event.
Bingo, Instant Bingo, Raffle (to include 50/50) and Paddle Wheel games may be included in the games conducted during the Casino Night, however the Casino Night may not consist exclusively of these games.
The organization may charge only a preset entrance fee for the Casino Night. Participants shall receive tokens for wagering in exchange for the entrance fee. A participant may purchase additional tokens, at a total cost not exceeding 100% of the entrance fee, during the Casino Night.
An organization may not allow cash to be used for wagering.
An organization may not exchange tokens used for wagering for:
- An item of merchandise that is worth more than $10,000;
- Money; or
- An item of merchandise having a value that is different from the fair market retail value of the item of merchandise that was received for the tokens.
An organization may rent or purchase necessary equipment and supplies to conduct the Casino Night but may not enter into a lease or other agreement to share profits from the event.
The Casino Night shall be managed and operated personally by members of the organization conducting the event. A member of the organization may not receive or be paid any of the proceeds from the event for personal use or benefit. A person may not receive a salary, a commission, or compensation of any kind for managing the gaming contest or operating a game played in the gaming contest. A person other than the holder of the license may not receive or be paid any proceeds.
To volunteer as an operator at the Casino Night, an individual must be at least 18 years old. To participate (or play) at a Casino Night, an individual must be at least 21 years old.
After costs incurred conducting the event are deducted, proceeds from the Casino Night shall be used to benefit a charity or to further the purpose of the organization.
Within 30 days after the event, the organization shall submit a financial report that lists all of the receipts and expenditures for the Casino Night event. The report shall contain a full accounting of the proceeds and expenses of the Casino Night along with the name(s), address (es) and social security number(s) of participant(s) declared the winner requiring the issuance of Internal Revenue Service Form W-2G or a substantially equivalent form.
The holder of the license shall keep all financial records of the Casino Night event for at least 2 years. The Sheriff may refuse to issue a license to an applicant who has failed to file a required report from a previous event or is late in filing Federal or State tax returns. An organization found to have violated this section is ineligible to receive a permit for a period of 5 years.
Prizes
Wagering with cash is prohibited by law. The organization must list in their application each prize that will be awarded along with the fair market value of that prize. The fair market value of each prize must not exceed $10,000.
Cost of Casino Night License
The cost of a Casino Night License is $125.00. This is a non-refundable fee, nor can credit be given. All payments received must be in the form of a check or money order made payable to “Harford County”.
If you have additional questions about gambling licenses then please contact our Records Unit during normal business hours (410) 836-5450, or you can email hcsogamblinglicense@harfordsheriff.org.