Arkansas Statewide Rule
Arkansas Charitable Bingo and Raffle Licensing Law
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
- Governing law
- Ark. Code Ann. § 23-114-101 et seq. (Act 388 of 2007)
- Constitutional basis
- Arkansas Constitution Amendment 84 (2006)
- Annual license fee
- $100 for combined bingo and raffle license
- Eligibility
- Nonprofit in continuous existence at least 5 years
- Bingo session limit
- 5 hours max, 2 sessions per week
- First-offense penalty
- Misdemeanor, fine up to $5,000
Summary
Arkansas allows charitable bingo and raffles only under Ark. Code Ann. § 23-114-101 et seq., administered by the Department of Finance and Administration under DFA Rule 2007-4. A qualifying nonprofit that has operated in Arkansas for at least five years must hold a $100 annual license, or a $10-$25 temporary permit, before running a single bingo session or raffle. Running one without a license carries the same criminal penalties as operating an illegal lottery.
"Authorized organization" means an organization eligible for a license to conduct games of bingo and raffles that is a nonprofit tax exempt religious, educational, veterans, fraternal, service, civic, medical, volunteer rescue service, volunteer firefighters organization or volunteer police organization that has been in continuing existence as a nonprofit tax exempt organization in this state for a period of not less than five (5) years immediately prior to conducting the game of bingo or raffles. ... An authorized organization license to conduct both bingo games and raffles may be issued by the Department to an authorized organization for an annual fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100). ... A violation of the provisions of Act 388 of 2007 by a licensed authorized organization shall be an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) if prosecuted and convicted. Any person who conducts a game of bingo or a raffle without a permit issued under the provisions of Act 388 of 2007 shall be subject to the same penalties set forth under §5-66-118 with regard to the operation of a lottery.
Full Breakdown
Arkansas voters created the only exception to the state's constitutional lottery ban when they approved Amendment 84 in November 2006, letting long-established nonprofits run bingo and raffles. The General Assembly implemented that exception the next year as the Charitable Bingo and Raffles Enabling Act, Act 388 of 2007, codified at Ark. , and the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) administers it under Rule 2007-4. " An annual bingo-and-raffle license costs $100 and runs July 1 to June 30; an organization that games only occasionally can instead buy a $25 one-session temporary bingo permit, a $25 Class I temporary raffle permit, or a $10 Class II permit for a raffle with a donated prize package under $5,000.
Distributors and manufacturers of bingo equipment need a separate $2,500 annual license. Bingo is capped at one session a day, two sessions a week, five hours per session, $1,000 per single-game prize, and $7,500 total prizes per session, plus a $250 door prize that doesn't count against that cap; raffle prizes are capped at $50,000 in total value per calendar year ($100,000 if donated) and $5,000 in cash per prize. Only volunteers, not paid staff or agents, may run the games, and no one under 18 may play or buy a ticket.
Organizations with over $500 a month in gross receipts must keep the money in a dedicated bingo-and-raffle bank account and spend it only on listed expenses and the group's charitable purpose. DFA can inspect premises, audit records, and revoke or deny a license for false statements, sloppy recordkeeping, or diverting proceeds.
Violations & Penalties
A licensed organization that breaks Act 388's rules commits an unclassified misdemeanor: up to a $5,000 fine for a first violation and up to $10,000 for a second or later one. Running bingo or a raffle with no license at all is treated the same as operating an illegal lottery under Ark. Code Ann. § 5-66-118. DFA refers criminal violations to the local prosecuting attorney and can revoke a license, deny renewal, or seek an injunction for false statements, bad recordkeeping, or diverted proceeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can legally run a charitable bingo game or raffle in Arkansas?
How much does an Arkansas bingo or raffle license cost?
What happens if a group runs bingo without a license?
Are there caps on bingo and raffle prizes?
Sources
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