Missouri Statewide Rule
Missouri Charitable Bingo Licensing Law
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Missouri Gaming Commission, Charitable Games Division
- Eligibility
- 5 years continuous existence, 20 bona fide members
- Annual license fee
- $50, paid to the gaming commission fund
- License term
- Expires one year from date of issuance
- Game limits
- Max 62 games per session, cards capped at $1
- Schedule limits
- 2 bingo days per week; no play 1-7 a.m.
- Felony penalty
- Class E felony for diverting net receipts
Summary
Missouri lets religious, charitable, fraternal, veteran, and service groups run bingo only after the Missouri Gaming Commission issues a license under RSMo Chapter 313. An organization needs five years of continuous existence and twenty bona fide members, pays a $50 annual fee, and diverting net receipts from charity work is a class E felony under RSMo 313.040.
Mo. Const. art. III, § 39(a): "The game commonly known as bingo when conducted by religious, charitable, fraternal, veteran or service organizations is not a lottery or gift enterprise within the meaning of subdivision (9) of section 39 of this article if the general assembly authorizes by law that religious, charitable, fraternal, service, or veteran organizations may conduct the game commonly known as bingo, upon the payment of the license fee and the issuance of the license as provided for by law." ... RSMo § 313.010.1: "Any bona fide religious, charitable, fraternal, veteran or service organization, which has been in existence for at least five years immediately prior to making an application for a license and which, during that period, has had twenty bona fide members, may conduct the game of bingo upon receiving a license from the commission."
Full Breakdown
The Missouri Constitution carves bingo out of the state's general lottery ban. Article III, Section 39(a) declares that bingo run by a religious, charitable, fraternal, veteran, or service organization "is not a lottery or gift enterprise" under the constitution's Section 39(9) prohibition, so long as the legislature licenses it and net receipts go only to charitable, religious, or philanthropic purposes. The legislature did exactly that in RSMo Chapter 313, administered by the Missouri Gaming Commission's Charitable Games Division (authority moved there from the Department of Revenue after June 30, 1994, under RSMo 313.004).
To qualify for a standard license under RSMo 313.010, an organization must have existed continuously for at least five years and had twenty bona fide members throughout that period; up to five otherwise-eligible unlicensed groups may combine on one joint application. RSMo 313.015 sets the annual license fee at $50, paid into the state treasury's gaming commission fund, with the license expiring one year to the day after issuance; a special license for a single fair, picnic, or festival week costs $25. Groups that only run pull-tab card games on 15 or fewer occasions a year can instead take an abbreviated license at $10 per occasion, an "occasion" being any event under 24 hours.
RSMo 313.040 sets the operating rules: no more than 62 games per session, no card priced over $1, only two bingo days per week per license, and no play between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Only unpaid members who have belonged at least six months may run the games, and no one under 16 may play or operate one. Diverting net receipts away from the licensed charitable purpose is a class E felony; lending out bingo proceeds without authorization is a class C misdemeanor. Falsifying a license application is a class A misdemeanor under RSMo 313.020 and permanently bars that person from any future role in a licensed game.
Violations & Penalties
Running bingo for profit or letting net receipts leak outside the charitable purpose is a class E felony under RSMo 313.040. Lending out proceeds without commission authorization is a class C misdemeanor. Lying on a license application is a class A misdemeanor under RSMo 313.020 that permanently bars the applicant from ever holding a license or helping manage a licensed game again. The Missouri Gaming Commission can also deny, suspend, or revoke a license under RSMo 313.052.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a church or nonprofit need a state license to run a bingo night in Missouri?
How much can a Missouri bingo card cost, and how often can a group hold games?
Can a small nonprofit that only sells pull-tabs get a cheaper license?
What happens if a licensed organization keeps bingo profits for itself?
Sources
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