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

Is bingo legal in Maine?

Yes. Maine allows bingo, which state law calls beano, as long as an eligible organization registers with the Gambling Control Unit in the Department of Public Safety.

The rules live in Title 17, Chapter 13-A of the Maine Revised Statutes, titled “Beano or Bingo.” Section 312 says no person or group may run beano without a registration the unit has accepted, and a violation is a civil offense with a fine of up to $1,000. The same chapter covers commercial beano halls, prize limits and high-stakes beano.

Maine also has two commercial casinos (in Bangor and Oxford), but those are slot and table-game venues licensed separately. Everyday Maine bingo is a charity affair: fire stations, Grange halls, veterans posts and church basements.

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

You must be 16 to play. Under 17 M.R.S. §319, people under 16 may not play or help conduct beano, and they can only be in the playing area if a parent, guardian or other responsible person is with them.

That makes Maine one of the lower bingo ages in New England. Casino gaming is a different story: the state’s commercial casinos are 21+.

Can you play online bingo for real money in Maine?

Not today. No licensed real-money online bingo is available in Maine.

Change is coming slowly. Maine passed LD 1164, which gives the four Wabanaki Nations the exclusive right to offer online casino games, and the Gambling Control Unit has been holding I-Gaming rulemaking hearings in 2026. Whether bingo will be part of any launch is not yet clear, so treat any site claiming to offer Maine real-money bingo with caution. Our online bingo guide explains what is legal where. Need to talk to someone about gambling? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.

Are sweepstakes bingo sites legal in Maine?

No. Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 2007 on April 6, 2026, banning online sweepstakes games that use a dual-currency system to imitate casino gaming. The bill’s definition specifically includes bingo, along with slots, table games, lottery-style games and sports wagering.

The law took effect in mid-July 2026. Fines run from $10,000 to $100,000 and go to Maine’s Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund, and a licensed gaming operator caught offering these games faces license revocation. Before the ban, an estimated 50 to 60 sweepstakes operators were serving Maine. Our sweepstakes bingo explainer shows how the coin system works.

Where can you play bingo in Maine?

Most Maine bingo happens at registered charity games: volunteer fire departments, American Legion and VFW posts, agricultural fairs and parish halls. We have not listed individual halls here because schedules at small Maine venues change often, so check local papers and organization calendars.

Some charities rent space in commercial beano halls. Under 17 M.R.S. §328, those landlords need a $500 annual permit from the Gambling Control Unit, must charge fair market rent, and may not tie rent to the charity’s profits.

High-stakes beano and tribal bingo

Maine law (17 M.R.S. §314-A) lets the Gambling Control Unit license a federally recognized tribe to run high-stakes beano, with attendance prizes of up to $25,000. The Penobscot Nation has historically run high-stakes bingo weekends on Indian Island. Maine’s tribes operate under state licensing rather than the federal Class II system used elsewhere, and we could not confirm a current schedule, so contact the Penobscot Nation directly before you travel.

How to run a charity bingo game in Maine

Registration is straightforward and inexpensive. Here are the basics under 17 M.R.S. §313-C:

1. Confirm you are eligible. Volunteer fire departments, agricultural fair associations and nonprofit charitable, educational, civic, fraternal, religious, veterans and similar groups qualify. Most groups must have existed in Maine for at least two years, unless they hold a national charter.
2. Pick a registration length. Fees are $12 for a week, $36 for a month, $400 for a year or $5 for a single game (up to six single games a year).
3. Get local approval if your town requires it. Some municipalities review beano applications before they go to the state.
4. Name a game manager. A member aged 18 or older, in good standing for at least two years, must have exclusive control of each game and the final say on winners.
5. Follow prize limits and keep records. The chapter sets prize caps and reporting duties, and proceeds must go to the organization’s purposes.

For planning, staffing and prize ideas, see our bingo fundraiser guide. Crossing the border? Compare the rules in New Hampshire.