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Frederick County bill would allow volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance groups to accept credit cards at gaming events with $500 cap
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Summary
Delegate April Miller told the Ways and Means Committee HB 1609 would let Frederick County volunteer emergency service organizations accept credit cards at bingo and raffle events with a $500 per-person-per-event limit; members raised concerns about chargebacks and gambling-related debt during questioning.
Delegate April Miller presented House Bill 1609 on March 18, saying the measure would allow volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance organizations in Frederick County to accept credit card payments at gaming events subject to a $500 per-person-per-event cap.
“For the record, I am Delegate April Miller representing the Frederick County delegation to introduce House Bill 1609,” Miller said. She described gaming events — bingo nights, raffles and tip jars — as longstanding community fundraisers that have been affected as people carry less cash, and said the $500 cap reflects deliberation about consumer protection.
Miller said the Frederick County delegation voted unanimously in support on Feb. 20, 2026, and told the committee the bill “does not open the floodgates to expanded gambling” and would not eliminate oversight. Committee members asked practical questions about whether debit cards are already allowed (with a PIN), whether recent bills limiting credit for mobile sports betting affect this measure, how often organizations hold gaming events and what venue capacities are.
Vice Chair Belmark said he was sympathetic to the purpose but worried about expanding credit use in gaming because it can lead to people losing money they do not have. Delia Hartman questioned whether organizations have considered the risk of chargebacks — that a patron could contest a credit card charge after losing a bet — and asked whether organizations would assume that risk.
Miller said the delegation intentionally included a $500 cap in the amendment and offered to provide committee members with examples and additional county-specific information. The bill hearing closed with committee members directing follow-up questions to subcommittees; no committee vote was recorded in the hearing transcript. The committee announced that the Gaming subcommittee would meet at 3:30 p.m., and the full committee planned a vote later in the day.
