How to Run a Bingo Fundraiser: Licenses, Setup, Prizes and Profit

Do you need a license for a bingo fundraiser?

Probably, yes. In most US states, bingo is legal only when a qualified nonprofit runs it under a state or local license, and a game where people pay to play for prizes is exactly what those laws cover. Hosting without the right permit can expose your group to fines and put its nonprofit status at risk.

Bingo is regulated state by state, not federally (tribal bingo on Indian lands is the exception, under federal law). That means the answer depends on where you are. Start with your state’s page in our state-by-state bingo law guide, which names the regulator and links to the official rules.

Here is how four states handle it, to give you a feel for the range:

When is a bingo game exempt from licensing?

Some small, low-stakes games need no license. Exemptions usually cover games where nobody pays to play, or where prizes are of nominal value. Texas is a clear example: its Bingo Enabling Act exempts games run solely for amusement for groups of people 60 or older, senior centers, hospital patients and nursing or retirement home residents, and the state says prizes in those games should be nominal.

A private home game among friends is also generally exempt in many states. But once you advertise to the public, charge admission or sell cards, and hand out cash or valuable prizes, assume you need a license until your regulator says otherwise.

Which groups can run charity bingo?

Usually only established nonprofits. Typical eligible groups are religious congregations, veterans organizations such as VFW and American Legion posts, fraternal lodges, volunteer fire and ambulance companies, and charitable or civic groups.

Common eligibility rules include:

• A minimum age for the organization. Pennsylvania generally requires two years of existence before you apply.
• No political groups. Pennsylvania’s law excludes political organizations.
• Members or volunteers only. Many states require that the people running the game be unpaid members or volunteers.
• Proceeds used for the stated purpose. Net profit must go to the charitable, religious or civic purpose on your application.

How do you plan a profitable bingo night?

Profit comes from card sales minus prizes and costs. Build your budget backward from a realistic head count, not from the prizes you would like to give away.

A simple planning worksheet:

These are illustrative numbers, not a promise of results. Your state may cap prizes per game or per session, so check those limits before you advertise any payout. Donated prizes, such as gift baskets or restaurant certificates, stretch the budget further. See our bingo prize ideas for options at every price point.

Extra income ideas that are usually simpler:

• A food and drink table (check food-safety and alcohol rules for your venue)
• A 50/50 or raffle, only where your state allows it and with any separate permit it requires
• Extra cards or special games sold during the night
• A donation jar for your cause, with a short explanation of what the money funds

What supplies and volunteers do you need?

Plan for one caller, at least two checkers and a cashier for every 80 to 100 players. Bigger rooms need more checkers so winners are verified quickly.

Supplies checklist:

1. Cards or paper packs. Print free cards with our bingo card generator for small events; some states require licensed groups to buy paper from licensed suppliers, so check first.
2. Daubers for paper, or chips for reusable hard cards.
3. A ball set with a cage or blower, or a laptop running our free online bingo caller.
4. A display board or screen so players can see called numbers.
5. A microphone and speakers. Many players are older, and clear audio matters.
6. A cash box, receipt book and tally sheets.
7. Printed house rules covering ties, late claims and age limits.

How do you run the games on the night?

Keep it simple, clear and consistent. Most fundraisers play 10 to 15 games of 75-ball bingo, mixing quick patterns with a blackout finale.

A sample program:

• Games 1–3: single line (fast warm-up)
• Games 4–6: four corners, letter X, small picture frame
• Games 7–9: special patterns with donated prizes
• Game 10: blackout for the top prize

Announce each pattern before the first ball, call letter and number twice (“B-7, B-7”), and have checkers read the winning numbers back aloud. If two players bingo on the same ball, split the prize as your posted rules say. Our guide on how to call bingo has a calling script you can borrow.

What records do you need to keep?

Keep a written record of every dollar in and out. Licensed groups typically must report gross receipts, prizes paid and expenses, and keep records for several years.

At the end of the night:

1. Two volunteers count the cash together and sign the tally.
2. Record each game’s prize and the winner’s name if your state requires it for larger prizes.
3. Deposit proceeds into the organization’s account promptly.
4. File any post-event report your license requires, by its deadline.

Good records protect your volunteers and your nonprofit status. They also make next year’s application easier.

Can you run a bingo fundraiser online?

Be careful. Charging people to play bingo for prizes over Zoom or another platform can still count as gambling, and many charitable gaming laws only allow games played in person at a licensed location. A free-to-play virtual night with donated prizes and an optional, separate donation is the lower-risk format. See our guide to virtual bingo on Zoom for setup tips.

Keep it fun and responsible

Charity bingo is a social night, not a way for players to make money. Post your house rules, set an age policy that matches your state’s law, and keep the National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-GAMBLER, on a sign near the cashier. Our responsible gaming page has more resources.