Michigan Statewide Rule

Michigan Charitable Gaming Licensing Under the Bingo Act

Significant RestrictionsApplies statewide across Michigan (2026)

Key Facts

Governing law: Traxler-McCauley-Law-Bowman Bingo Act, MCL 432.101 et seq.
Who may hold a license: Only a 'qualified organization' under MCL 432.103a(d)
Qualifying tenure: 5 years continuous existence, or IRS 501(c) exemption
Large bingo prize cap: $3,500 per occasion, $1,100 per single game
Large raffle threshold: Prizes exceeding $500 per occasion
Millionaire-party regulator: Michigan Gaming Control Board executive director
Millionaire-party civil penalty: Up to $2,500 per violation (MCL 432.150)

Last verified: August 21, 2026

Summary

Michigan bars bingo, raffles, charity games, numeral games, and millionaire parties unless a licensed 'qualified organization' runs them under the Traxler-McCauley-Law-Bowman Bingo Act, MCL 432.101 et seq. Qualifying nonprofits need five years of continuous existence or IRS 501(c) status. The Bureau of State Lottery licenses bingo, raffles, and charity games; the Michigan Gaming Control Board licenses casino-style millionaire parties separately.

"Qualified organization" means, subject to subdivision (e), either of the following: (i) A bona fide religious, educational, service, senior citizens, fraternal, or veterans' organization that operates without profit to its members and that either has been in existence continuously as an organization for a period of 5 years or is exempt from taxation under section 501(c) of the internal revenue code of 1986, 26 USC 501(c). (ii) Only for the purpose of conducting a small raffle or a large raffle under this act, a component of the military or the Michigan national guard whose members are in active service or active state service. ... "An applicant for a license to conduct a bingo, raffle, charity game, or numeral game event shall submit to the bureau a written application on a form prescribed by the commissioner."

View official code

Full Breakdown

The Traxler-McCauley-Law-Bowman Bingo Act, 1972 PA 382, makes charitable gambling legal in Michigan only inside a licensed structure. MCL 432.103a(d) defines a "qualified organization" as a bona fide religious, educational, service, senior citizens, fraternal, or veterans' group that operates without profit to its members and has existed continuously for five years, or that holds federal tax-exempt status under IRC 501(c); a military or Michigan National Guard component qualifies too, but only to run raffles. Political committees and campaign-finance entities are excluded outright. Under MCL 432.104(1), that organization must file a written application with the Bureau of State Lottery on a form the commissioner prescribes before it can hold a bingo, raffle, charity game, or numeral game event; MCL 432.106 requires the resulting license to be displayed at the event.

Bingo itself carries numeric ceilings: MCL 432.103(a) caps large bingo at $3,500 in total prizes per occasion and $1,100 per single game, and MCL 432.103(b) defines a large raffle as one where prizes exceed $500 per occasion. Millionaire parties -- casino-style wagering on imitation money or chips -- moved to a separate track under 2019 PA 159: the Michigan Gaming Control Board's executive director now licenses and regulates them under MCL 432.150, not the lottery bureau. Net proceeds from any licensed event must go to the organization's lawful purposes, and MCL 432.109 caps what can be paid out as expenses -- equipment, prizes, hall rental, janitorial services, and the license fee itself.

Violations & Penalties

Under the Michigan Gaming Control Board's millionaire-party track, MCL 432.150 lets the executive director deny, suspend, or revoke a license for any violation by the organization or its officers, agents, or employees, with summary suspension up to 60 days pending investigation. Each violation draws a civil penalty up to $2,500, plus a cease-and-desist order or injunctive relief, and the qualified organization, its millionaire party chairperson, and its principal officer are jointly and severally liable. A revoked millionaire-party license carries a five-year ban on reapplying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which nonprofits qualify for a Michigan charitable gaming license?

Only a 'qualified organization' under MCL 432.103a(d): a bona fide religious, educational, service, senior citizens, fraternal, or veterans' group that operates without profit to its members and has existed continuously for five years, or one that holds federal 501(c) tax-exempt status. A military or Michigan National Guard component also qualifies, but only to hold raffles. Political and campaign-finance committees cannot qualify under any circumstance.

Who licenses millionaire parties in Michigan?

The Michigan Gaming Control Board's executive director does, under MCL 432.150 -- a split created by 2019 PA 159. Bingo, raffles, charity games, and numeral games stay with the Bureau of State Lottery commissioner under MCL 432.104. A millionaire party lets a qualified organization run casino-style wagering with imitation money or chips for a single event, and its chairperson is personally liable alongside the organization for violations.

Is there a prize limit on Michigan bingo games?

Yes. MCL 432.103(a) caps large bingo at $3,500 in total prizes per occasion and $1,100 per individual game, though a Michigan progressive jackpot bingo game is exempt from those caps. A large raffle, defined in MCL 432.103(b), is any raffle where the prizes awarded exceed $500 per occasion; anything at or below that threshold falls outside the large-raffle rules.

What penalties apply if a millionaire-party licensee violates Michigan's rules?

The Michigan Gaming Control Board's executive director can impose a civil penalty of up to $2,500 per violation under MCL 432.150, plus a cease-and-desist order or injunctive relief, and can suspend or revoke the license outright -- summarily, for up to 60 days, while an investigation proceeds. A revoked license bars reapplying for five years, and the qualified organization, its millionaire party chairperson, and its principal officer are jointly and severally liable for whatever is owed.

Sources

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.