Bingo in Arkansas: Laws, Halls & Online Bingo (2026 Guide)

Is bingo legal in Arkansas?

Yes, for charities. Arkansas voters approved Amendment 84 in November 2006, and the Charitable Bingo and Raffles Enabling Act (Ark. Code Title 23, Chapter 114) put it into practice in 2007. The Department of Finance and Administration licenses and supervises every game.

Before that vote, church and lodge bingo in Arkansas had been halted for about three years, so for many parishes 2007 marked bingo’s comeback rather than its debut.

Only nonprofit organizations can run bingo here. There are no commercial bingo halls, and Arkansas has no tribal casinos on reservation land, so the state’s casinos at racetracks and in Pine Bluff don’t run games under federal Indian gaming law.

How old do you have to be to play bingo in Arkansas?

You must be 18. The state’s bingo and raffles rule says no individual under 18 may play bingo or buy raffle tickets from a licensed organization.

Arkansas’s licensed casinos have their own, separate age rules for casino gaming.

Can you play online bingo for real money in Arkansas?

No. Arkansas allows online sports betting through its licensed casinos, but it has not legalized online casino games or internet bingo. An Amendment 84 license covers in-person games only.

Free bingo apps are fine to play. Our online bingo guide explains the difference between free, sweepstakes and cash apps. If gambling is becoming a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.

Are sweepstakes bingo sites legal in Arkansas?

Arkansas hasn’t banned them, and major operators serve the state. In March 2025 lawmakers filed HB 1861, which would have legalized online casinos and made running dual-currency sweepstakes sites a felony, but the Senate version was withdrawn and the House bill was sent to interim study.

We found no new ban passed in 2026. Since the idea has already been filed once, expect it to return. Our sweepstakes bingo explainer covers what happens to coin balances when a state closes the door.

Who can play at an Arkansas charity bingo game?

Any adult. The state rule says a licensed organization can’t turn players away because they aren’t members, and it can’t deny anyone the chance to play based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex or disability.

So a Knights of Columbus game is open to the whole town, not just the council’s members. The only hard limit on players is the age rule: 18 and older.

Where can you play bingo in Arkansas?

Look to Catholic parishes, Knights of Columbus councils, veterans posts and civic clubs, which have run most of the state’s licensed games since 2007. Schedules change often, so call ahead or check the parish bulletin.

We haven’t listed specific halls because we couldn’t verify current schedules. The Department of Finance and Administration can confirm whether an organization holds an active bingo license.

How to run a charity bingo game in Arkansas

Arkansas keeps a close watch on bingo, and the director has broad authority over every game. The basic path:

1. Check eligibility. Your group must be a tax-exempt nonprofit of an approved type and must have existed in Arkansas for at least five years before running bingo.
2. Register with DFA. Annual bingo and raffle licenses are handled by the Miscellaneous Tax Section, and a temporary license is available for one-off events.
3. Buy approved supplies. You may only use bingo faces approved by the director, bought from a licensed distributor.
4. Keep sessions short. No session may run longer than five consecutive hours in a day.
5. Keep records and spend proceeds on your charitable purpose, as defined by your federal tax exemption.

For planning tips, see our bingo fundraiser guide. Near the northern border? Compare the rules in Missouri.