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Charitable Bingo Overview

In Ohio, certain groups may be eligible to conduct bingo as a fundraising tool. Bingo is a highly regulated activity in this state. To conduct bingo, a group must be considered a "charitable organization" as defined by Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2915. Additionally, the charitable organization must receive a license from the Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Law Section. Bingo license and application fees are non-refundable.

In Ohio, there are three types of bingo:

Traditional bingo
Instant bingo
Electronic instant bingo

Who Is Eligible for a Bingo License?

To be eligible for a bingo license, an applicant must also meet additional requirements. While not an exhaustive list, these additional requirements may include the following:

An organization must have a 501(c)(3), (c)(4), (c)(7), (c)(8), (c)(10), or (c)(19) tax exempt status granted by the IRS.
An organization must have continuously existed as a charitable organization for the two-year period immediately preceding the granting of a bingo license.
An organization must be current on all filings with the IRS. Filing information can be found by using the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool.
An organization must be current on all filings with the Ohio Attorney General's Office. Filing and compliance information can be found by using the Ohio Attorney General's Research Charities tool.
An organization must be in good standing with the Ohio Secretary of State. This information can be found by using the Ohio Secretary of State's Business Search tool.
Veterans organizations must be in good standing with their state or parent organization.
Only veterans organizations and fraternal organizations may qualify to play Electronic Instant Bingo.

For further information, please refer to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2915 and Ohio Administrative Code 109:1.

Documents Required to Complete the Bingo Application

Have the following documents ready before beginning the application:

IRS Tax Exempt Determination Letter
One year of meeting minutes
Proof of continuous existence in Ohio for the previous two years
- Common examples include Articles of Incorporation or a Certificate of Continued Existence from the Ohio Secretary of State
Documentation of the charitable organization's past programming and services
- Common examples include brochures, a schedule of activities, a list of events, etc.

Bingo license applications, amendments and renewals must be submitted online via the Charitable Account Management Portal. For information to keep in mind while completing a bingo application, see Bingo License Application Tips for 2026 in the Publications area at the bottom of this page.

Additional Resources

The Charitable Law Section offers a variety of bingo trainings. Registration is available online. Please contact the Charitable Law Section if you have questions regarding which training would best benefit your organization.

Since only qualified organizations are eligible for a bingo license, funds collected or raised by conducting bingo are charitable assets. Charity board members, bingo operators, and bingo volunteers owe fiduciary duties to their organization. A breach of these duties could result in loss of a bingo license and other liabilities. To help familiarize charities with their duties and responsibilities, board governance and interal controls presentations are part of each bingo training. For more information, please visit our Resources for Charities page.

Members of the Charitable Law Section are available to assist with any questions about conducting bingo and the online application process. Call 800-282-0515 or email CharitableBingo@OhioAGO.gov for assistance.

FAQs

Charitable Bingo

Can my organization amend our bingo license?
Yes. Amendments must be completed online through the Charitable Account Management Portal. In some cases, a $250 amendment fee will be assessed after the amendment is submitted.

Does my organization need to maintain a separate bingo checking account if it conducts bingo fewer than 5 days a year?
Yes. Regardless of how often your organization holds bingo events or how much revenue your event generates, it is mandatory to maintain a separate bingo checking account. This ensures proper financial tracking that is important for maintaining transparency and accountability of funds raised from the conduct of bingo.

Is my organization required to maintain a separate bingo checking account for each type of bingo we conduct?
Yes. According to Ohio Revised Code Section 2915.10(C) each type of bingo conducted must maintain a separate bingo checking account. For example, an organization that conducts traditional bingo, paper instant bingo, and electronic instant bingo would need three separate bingo checking accounts.

What is the minimum age to play bingo in Ohio?
A person must be at least 18 years old to play bingo in Ohio.

Can an individual with a felony be on the board of an organization that operates bingo?
Nothing in ORC 109, 1702, 1716, or 2915 prohibits a person who has been convicted of a felony or gambling offense from being on the board of a charitable organization that operates bingo. However, that person cannot be a bingo operator; see ORC 2915.11. Please contact private legal counsel to determine whether any other laws that may apply to your charitable organization would prevent a felon from serving on your charity's board.

Can an individual with a felony operate bingo or sell instant bingo tickets?
No. Persons who have been convicted of a felony or gambling offense in any jurisdiction may not be a bingo game operator. Bingo organizations are urged to closely review the list of bingo volunteers, ask whether they have any convictions, and consider conducting background checks.

Whom should I contact with questions about serving alcohol at bingo games?
Please refer to OAC 4301:1-1-53 or contact the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control, with any questions regarding liquor use.

Can my organization conduct Type I traditional bingo in a bar?
There is no prohibition against a charitable organization entering a lease with a bar to conduct Type I traditional bingo at such a location. However, there are significant pitfalls to doing so. The bar cannot advertise that it is hosting your bingo sessions – meaning, it cannot post your bingo sessions on its website or social media pages. Only your organization is allowed to advertise its bingo sessions. Also, the bar’s employees cannot assist you in conducting your bingo sessions, for example, by selling bingo cards, drawing and calling numbers, or awarding prizes. Equally as important, the bar cannot provide your organization with concessions or any other type of service. This means it cannot serve to your bingo participants the food and beverages it offers and sells while the bingo session is occurring. In short, the bar can provide you the space for you to conduct your Type I traditional bingo session, but nothing more than that.

My organization has questions about conducting a raffle. Where can I find more information?
Visit the Charitable Gaming page for more information about who can conduct raffles and how they must be conducted.

Where can I find information on sales and use tax pertaining to the rental and sales of bingo equipment?
FAQ responses 33 through 37 on the “Sales and Use - Applying the Tax” page of the Ohio Department of Taxation’s website clarify when the purchase or rental of gaming equipment is subject to sales and use tax and when it is exempt.

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CONTACT

Charitable Law Section
30 E. Broad St., 25th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 800-282-0515
Fax: 855-669-2154
Email: CharitableBingo@OhioAGO.gov