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SB 341

Baltimore City - Raffles - Organizations Affiliated With a Professional Major League Baseball Team

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cory McCray

Baltimore City nonprofits affiliated with the local MLB team may run raffles at games, under permits with geofenced, age-verified sales and per-purchase limits.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 372
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Bill Summary · SB 341

SB 341 — Baltimore City — Raffles — Organizations Affiliated With a Professional Major League Baseball Team

Status: Approved by the Governor — Chapter 372 (effective June 1, 2025)

Purpose

Authorize certain Baltimore City organizations that are affiliated with a professional major league baseball team that plays home games in Baltimore City to conduct raffles (including electronic raffle ticket sales at games), subject to permitting, age-verification, geofencing, and other consumer-protection and accountability requirements.

Key provisions

  • Authorized organizations

    • Must be located in Baltimore City and spend a majority of their funds in Baltimore City for fraternal, civic, charitable purposes, veterans’ hospital purposes, or amateur athletics.
    • Must be affiliated with a professional major league baseball team that plays its home games in Baltimore City.

  • Permits and oversight

    • Organizations must obtain a written permit from a Baltimore City agency designated by the City government before conducting raffles.
    • The designated agency must review the applicant’s character before issuing a permit.
    • Permits are nontransferable and must state that raffles be managed and operated only by members of the permitted organization.
    • A single permit may authorize raffles at multiple MLB games; such permits expire at the end of the calendar year in which issued.
    • Applications and agency action on permits are public record (consistent with existing gaming-event permit practice).

  • Raffle operation rules

    • Organizations may set ticket prices and award prizes (money or merchandise) in any amount.
    • Individuals or groups may not personally benefit from raffle proceeds; proceeds must be used for the organization’s stated purposes.
    • Raffle ticket sales (in-person or electronic) are limited spatially to the geographic boundaries of Baltimore City.
    • Electronic sales must employ a geofence to ensure purchases are made within the specified Baltimore City area.
    • Age verification is required to ensure buyers are at least 18 years old.
    • Tickets may be sold no earlier than 1 hour before the official start of the baseball game and sales must end by the seventh inning of that game.

  • Payment method exception

    • Organizations conducting these raffles are not subject to the general prohibition on accepting credit as payment provided that no individual purchases more than $50 worth of tickets or makes more than one credit transaction per day.

  • Penalties

    • Knowingly conducting a raffle in violation of the law is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000.

Who is affected

  • Eligible Baltimore City nonprofit/fraternal/civic/charitable organizations affiliated with the local MLB team (e.g., team-linked foundations or booster organizations).
  • Baltimore City agencies designated to issue permits and enforce rules.
  • Game attendees and potential raffle purchasers (age-restricted; electronic purchases limited by geofence and per-person credit limits).
  • Existing permit and enforcement authorities (e.g., Baltimore City Police Department or other designated agency).

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Fiscal and Policy Note (pre-enactment) indicated a small potential reduction in State lottery receipts and that Baltimore City could administer permits with existing resources.
  • The Maryland Fiscal Note initially described the measure as terminating June 30, 2026 (i.e., a pilot). The enrolled Chapter 372 carries an effective date of June 1, 2025. Consult the official published Chapter 372 text for any termination language or additional implementation details.

Practical impact

  • Creates a structured, conditional pathway for team-affiliated organizations to run raffles at MLB games in Baltimore, including modernized electronic ticket sales with geofencing and age checks.
  • Balances fundraising flexibility (no prize caps; many raffles allowed at games) with safeguards: permitting, member management, geographic limits, age verification, and caps on credit use per purchaser.
  • Enforcement remains criminal for intentional violations (misdemeanor).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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