Kentucky Statewide Rule

Kentucky Charitable Gaming Bingo and Raffle Limits

Significant RestrictionsApplies statewide across Kentucky (2026)

Key Facts

Regulator: Office of Charitable Gaming, KY Horse Racing & Gaming Corp
Bingo frequency limit: 1 session/day, 3/week, 15 hrs/week max
Bingo prize cap: $5,000 fair market value per 24 hours
Charity game ticket cap: $1,499/ticket; $2,400 seal-card carryovers
License exemption threshold: $25,000 gross receipts per activity per year
License fee: Up to $1,000, graduated by receipts
Regulatory fee: 0.53% of gross charitable gaming receipts

Last verified: August 21, 2026

Summary

Kentucky's Office of Charitable Gaming, under the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation, licenses every charitable organization running bingo, raffles, or charity game tickets under KRS Chapter 238. A licensed group can run bingo only one session a day, three sessions a week, capped at five hours daily and fifteen hours weekly, with prizes capped at $5,000 per 24-hour period. Charity game tickets top out at $1,499 per prize.

A licensed charitable organization shall be limited by the following: (a) In the conduct of bingo, to one (1) session per day, three (3) sessions per week, for a period not to exceed five (5) consecutive hours in any day and not to exceed fifteen (15) total hours per week: 1. A licensed charitable organization shall not conduct bingo at more than one (1) location during the same twenty-four (24) hour period; 2. A licensed charitable organization shall not award prizes for bingo that exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) in fair market value per twenty-four (24) hour period, including the value of door prizes; and 3. A person under the age of eighteen (18) shall not be permitted to purchase bingo supplies or play bingo unless he or she is playing for noncash prizes and is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and only if the value of any noncash prize awarded does not exceed ten dollars ($10).

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Full Breakdown

Kentucky regulates charitable gambling -- bingo, raffles, charity game tickets, and charity fundraising events -- through the Office of Charitable Gaming, housed within the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation under KRS Chapter 238. Any nonprofit that wants to run these games must hold a charitable gaming license unless its gross receipts from bingo, from raffles, and from non-special-event fundraisers each stay under $25,000 a year and its combined receipts across all three stay under $25,000 total (KRS 238.535(1)). Above that threshold, an organization applies for a license; fees run up to $1,000 on a graduated scale set by regulation (KRS 238.535(16)), and licensed organizations owe a regulatory fee of 0.53% of gross charitable gaming receipts, remitted to the Charitable Gaming Regulatory Account (KRS 238.570(1)).

Bingo is capped at one session a day and three sessions a week, no more than five hours in a day or fifteen hours total for the week, and a group cannot run bingo at more than one location in the same 24-hour period. Bingo prizes, including door prizes, cannot exceed $5,000 in fair market value per 24-hour period (KRS 238.545(1)(a)). Individual charity game ticket prizes are capped at $1,499, with seal-card cumulative or carryover prizes capped separately at $2,400 (KRS 238.545(2)(a)-(b)). Charity fundraising events are generally capped at 72 consecutive hours, and a single organization may hold no more than eight fundraising-event licenses a year, including up to two special limited events (KRS 238.545(4)(e)). Anyone under 18 is barred from buying bingo supplies or charity game tickets, with a narrow exception letting a minor play bingo for noncash prizes worth $10 or less while accompanied by a parent or guardian (KRS 238.545(1)(a)3.).

Violations & Penalties

Running bingo, raffles, or charity gaming without the required license is a Class A misdemeanor, as is falsifying a license application, failing to keep required records, or refusing to produce them for inspection (KRS 238.995(1)-(2)). A second unlicensed-operation offense within five years is a Class D felony. Fraud that corrupts a game's outcome, or diverting charitable gaming funds to personal benefit, is a Class B misdemeanor under $500, a Class A misdemeanor from $500 to $999, and a Class D felony at $1,000 or more (KRS 238.995(3)-(4)).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a small church raffle need a Kentucky charitable gaming license?

Not always. KRS 238.535(1) exempts bingo, a raffle, or non-special-event fundraisers from licensing as long as each activity's gross receipts stay under $25,000 a year and the organization's combined charitable gaming receipts don't exceed $25,000 total. An exempt group still must notify the Office of Charitable Gaming in writing and file an annual financial report by January 31, or the exemption is automatically rescinded.

How much can a Kentucky bingo prize be worth?

Bingo prizes, including door prizes, cannot exceed $5,000 in fair market value in any 24-hour period, under KRS 238.545(1)(a)2. A licensed organization also can't run bingo at more than one location on the same day, and sessions are capped at one per day, three per week, and fifteen hours total weekly.

Can a minor play bingo or buy raffle tickets in Kentucky?

A person under 18 cannot purchase bingo supplies or charity game tickets at all. The only exception lets a minor play bingo if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and only for noncash prizes worth $10 or less, under KRS 238.545(1)(a)3.

What's the penalty for running unlicensed charitable gaming in Kentucky?

It's a Class A misdemeanor under KRS 238.995(1). A second unlicensed-operation conviction within five years is elevated to a Class D felony. Falsifying a license application or refusing to produce required records for inspection carries the same Class A misdemeanor penalty.

How many fundraising events can a Kentucky nonprofit hold each year?

A licensed charitable organization is limited to eight total charity fundraising event licenses per year, including up to two special limited charity fundraising events, under KRS 238.545(4)(e). Except for state, county, and city fairs and special limited events, each licensed fundraising event is capped at 72 consecutive hours.

Sources

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