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

Is bingo legal in Louisiana?

Yes. Louisiana allows bingo run by licensed charitable organizations, and it has a busy charitable gaming scene that includes paper bingo, electronic video bingo and pull-tabs.

Charity games are overseen by the Office of Charitable Gaming (OCG), which sits under the Louisiana Department of Revenue. That is a different system from the state’s riverboat and land-based casinos, which answer to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and Louisiana State Police. Many charity games are held in commercial bingo halls: privately owned buildings that rent space to licensed nonprofits. The OCG licenses those landlords too, and in February 2026 it issued a notice reminding halls to keep their rental agreements in compliance.

Tribal bingo also exists. The Coushatta Tribe runs a 312-seat bingo hall inside Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder.

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

Louisiana is unusual here: state rules do not set a minimum age for ordinary charitable bingo. The OCG’s own FAQ says the law does not stop people under 18 from playing charitable games.

There are two big exceptions:

• Electronic video bingo is off-limits to anyone under 18.
• Workers who help run any charitable game must be at least 18.

Private halls and tribal casinos can set their own, higher limits, and casino floors are 21+. Call ahead before bringing younger family members.

Can you play online bingo for real money in Louisiana?

No. Louisiana has not legalized online casino games, and no state law authorizes real-money online bingo. Online sports betting is legal in many parishes, but that license does not extend to bingo or slots.

Free bingo apps that pay no cash prizes are a different matter. Our online bingo guide explains the difference between real-money, sweepstakes and social apps. If bingo or any gambling stops being fun, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER, 24 hours a day.

Are sweepstakes bingo sites legal in Louisiana?

No. Louisiana banned dual-currency sweepstakes casinos effective August 1, 2026.

It took two tries. Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a ban (SB 181) in 2025, but the Attorney General and Gaming Control Board then sent cease-and-desist letters, and many brands left the state. In 2026 the Legislature passed HB 883, signed May 15, 2026 as Act 182, which treats online sweepstakes games as “gambling by computer” and reaches suppliers and promoters as well as operators. A companion bill, HB 53, added these offenses to the state’s racketeering law. Sweepstakes bingo rooms that use Sweeps Coins fall under the same rules. Learn how these sites work in our sweepstakes bingo explainer.

Where can you play bingo in Louisiana?

Your options are licensed charity sessions (often in commercial halls), tribal casino bingo, and church or civic fundraisers. The table below lists venues we confirmed; local Knights of Columbus, VFW posts and parish churches also host regular games.

Gretna Bingo Palace, across the river from New Orleans, opened in 1993 and is one of the best-known halls in the metro area. In southwest Louisiana, Coushatta Casino Resort runs regular sessions and themed nights in its dedicated bingo hall.

How to run a charity bingo game in Louisiana

Running bingo for prizes requires an OCG license. The basic path:

1. Check eligibility. The organization must have been domiciled in Louisiana for two consecutive years before applying and must hold IRS 501(c) tax-exempt status.
2. Register the group with the Louisiana Secretary of State and have bylaws or articles of incorporation in place.
3. Attend OCG training and meet the office’s financial suitability requirements.
4. Secure a location, either your own building or a licensed commercial hall.
5. Apply to the OCG and pay the fees listed on its site. Licenses renew annually.
6. Buy supplies only from OCG-licensed distributors, and have a designated Member-in-Charge present at every session.

Our bingo fundraiser guide covers prizes, staffing and pricing once you are licensed.

Electronic video bingo and pull-tabs

Louisiana charities can offer more than paper cards. Electronic video bingo machines and pull-tabs are part of the charitable gaming mix, which is why the OCG licenses manufacturers and distributors as well as nonprofits. These machines carry the 18+ rule even though paper bingo does not.

Heading east? Our Mississippi bingo guide covers the rules next door.