Oklahoma Statewide Rule

Oklahoma Charity Games Act Requires ABLE License

Significant RestrictionsApplies statewide across Oklahoma (2026)

Key Facts

Licensing agency: ABLE Commission (Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement)
Organization license fee: $100 per year
License term: 1 year, non-transferable
Small-event exemption: 4 or fewer sessions per year
Unlicensed operation penalty: 6 months-1 year jail, $1,000+ fine
Distributor license fee: $5,000 per year
License disqualifier: Felony or gambling-misdemeanor conviction

Last verified: August 21, 2026

Summary

Oklahoma bans commercial bingo but lets charitable nonprofits run bingo, U-PIK-EM bingo, and breakopen ticket games under an ABLE Commission license. The Oklahoma Charity Games Act (3A O.S. Section 401 et seq.) requires a $100 annual organization license, bars anyone with a felony or gambling-related conviction from holding one, and lets groups running four or fewer sessions a year claim a licensing exemption instead.

The ABLE Commission shall be the licensing authority for the licensing of organizations, manufacturers, and distributors conducting, supplying, or otherwise providing charity games to the public in this state. ... All licenses issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Charity Games Act shall be valid for one (1) year from the date of issue. A license issued by the Commission shall not be transferable, sold, leased or assigned under any circumstances. A license shall not be issued to any organization if an officer thereof has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felony, or a misdemeanor related to gambling or gaming... The initial and renewal fees for licenses authorized by the Oklahoma Charity Games Act shall be as follows: 1. Organization License - One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); 2. Distributor License - Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00); 3. Manufacturer License - Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00); 4. Employee License - Fifteen Dollars ($15.00); and 5. Manager License - Fifty Dollars ($50.00).

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Full Breakdown

The Oklahoma Charity Games Act, 3A O.S. Section 401 et seq., was enacted in 1992 and adopted by State Question 650 to let charitable organizations raise money through games of chance while commercial gambling stays illegal. Section 401 states the Legislature's finding that games of chance offered to the public by other than charitable organizations, "commonly referred to as commercial bingo or commercial operations," are prohibited, and that any such game run by an unlicensed operator violates the law.

Section 402 defines a "charity game" as a bingo game, U-PIK-EM bingo game, or breakopen ticket game conducted by an organization. The Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission is the sole licensing authority under Section 403: it issues, renews, suspends, and revokes every license, inspects licensed premises without a warrant during normal operating hours, and adopts the rules that govern how charity games are conducted.

Section 404 fixes the license terms. Every license runs one year from issuance and can never be transferred, sold, leased, or assigned. An organization cannot get a license if an officer has a felony conviction, guilty plea, or nolo contendere plea, or any gambling-related misdemeanor, and the same bar applies to individual license applicants. Fees are set by statute: $100 for an organization license, $5,000 for a distributor license, $2,000 for a manufacturer license, $15 for an employee license, and $50 for a manager license, all deposited into the state General Revenue Fund.

Section 405 gives small operators a narrow way out: an organization holding four or fewer charity game sessions a year can file a verified exemption application with the ABLE Commission listing the dates, times, and location instead of obtaining a full organization license.

Violations & Penalties

Operating charity games without an ABLE Commission license, or letting a disqualified felon or gambling offender hold one, is a misdemeanor under Section 424: six months to one year in the county jail plus a fine of at least $1,000. Section 425 lets the Commission issue a cease-and-desist order first; violating that order draws an administrative fine of up to $5,000 for each violation, and each day the illegal activity continues counts as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Oklahoma nonprofits need a state license to run a bingo night?

Yes. Under 3A O.S. Section 403, the ABLE Commission is the sole licensing authority for any organization conducting bingo, U-PIK-EM bingo, or breakopen ticket games. An organization license costs $100 a year, runs for one year, and cannot be transferred, sold, leased, or assigned. Running charity games without one exposes the organization to misdemeanor charges under Section 424.

Can a small nonprofit skip the license?

Yes, if it's infrequent. Section 405 lets an organization that conducts four or fewer charity game sessions per calendar year file a verified exemption application with the ABLE Commission listing the dates, times, and location of each session, instead of obtaining a full organization license.

What happens if a felon tries to get a charity games license?

Section 404(C) and (D) bar the Commission from issuing a license to any organization whose officer, or any individual applicant, has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a felony, or to any misdemeanor related to gambling or gaming, under federal, D.C., state, or territorial law.

What's the penalty for running unlicensed charity games in Oklahoma?

Section 424 makes it a misdemeanor punishable by six months to one year in the county jail plus a fine of at least $1,000. Separately, the ABLE Commission can issue a cease-and-desist order under Section 425 and fine violators up to $5,000 for each day the illegal activity continues after the order.

Sources

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