Oregon Statewide Rule

Oregon Charitable Gaming License Required (ORS 464.270)

Significant RestrictionsApplies statewide across Oregon (2026)

Key Facts

Licensing Agency: Oregon DOJ, Charitable Activities Section
Eligibility: 1+ year of federal tax-exempt status required
Small Raffle Exemption: Handles under $10,000/year need no license
Bingo/Lotto Limit: Max 20 hours per week, 4 days
Monte Carlo Limit: 7 events per 12 months, 12 hours max
Criminal Penalty: Class A misdemeanor for license or reporting violations
Civil Penalty: Up to $10,000 per violation (ORS 464.470)

Last verified: August 21, 2026

Summary

Oregon nonprofit, fraternal, and religious organizations must hold a Department of Justice license before running bingo, lotto, raffle, or Monte Carlo fundraising events. DOJ won't issue one unless the group has held federal tax-exempt status for at least a year and operated primarily for its charitable purpose. Raffles under $10,000 a year skip licensing entirely; bingo and Monte Carlo events face separate hour and frequency caps.

The Department of Justice shall not issue a license to conduct bingo, lotto or raffle games or Monte Carlo events to any organization unless: (a) The organization is exempt from payment of federal income taxes as a charitable, fraternal or religious organization; and (b) The organization has held such tax exempt status for at least one year preceding its application to the department for a license and during which time the organization engaged primarily in its charitable, fraternal or religious purpose. ... Charitable, fraternal or religious organizations that conduct raffles that have handles of less than $10,000 in one calendar year are exempt from the licensing and reporting requirements for raffles under ORS 167.108 to 167.164 and 464.270 to 464.530.

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Full Breakdown

Under ORS 464.270, the Department of Justice cannot issue a bingo, lotto, raffle, or Monte Carlo license to any organization unless it is exempt from federal income tax as a charitable, fraternal, or religious group and has held that exempt status for at least a year, engaged primarily in its charitable purpose during that time. Applicants submit a certificate of tax exemption and supporting evidence to DOJ's Charitable Activities Section; a license automatically stops being valid the moment the organization loses its tax-exempt status.

Not every fundraiser needs a license. ORS 464.385 exempts raffles with a total handle under $10,000 in a calendar year from both the licensing and reporting requirements that otherwise apply under ORS 167.108 to 167.164 and 464.270 to 464.530, a church raffle selling a few hundred tickets a year never has to file anything with DOJ.

Licensed operations still answer to hard caps. ORS 464.350 limits bingo and lotto play to no more than 20 hours in any one week and no more than four calendar days in that week. Monte Carlo events, casino-style fundraisers with cards, dice, or wheels, are capped at seven per organization in any 12-month period, and no single event can run longer than 12 hours.

Violations carry teeth. ORS 464.995 makes a false statement to DOJ, a refused inspection, or any violation of the chapter's rules a Class A misdemeanor and grounds for suspension or revocation of the license. ORS 464.470(2) layers on a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation, assessed administratively rather than through a criminal court.

Violations & Penalties

Operating bingo, raffle, or Monte Carlo games without a Department of Justice license, or after the sponsoring organization's tax-exempt status lapses, is a Class A misdemeanor under ORS 464.995, along with any false statement, refused inspection, or other violation of the chapter's rules. DOJ can also suspend or revoke the license and impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation under ORS 464.470(2).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a small church raffle need an Oregon gaming license?

No. ORS 464.385 exempts raffles run by charitable, fraternal, or religious organizations from DOJ licensing and reporting if the raffle's total handle stays under $10,000 in a calendar year. Cross that threshold and the organization must apply for a Department of Justice raffle license under ORS 464.270 like any other charitable gaming operator, including proof of at least a year of tax-exempt status.

How many Monte Carlo fundraisers can a nonprofit hold in Oregon?

ORS 464.350 caps a licensed organization at seven Monte Carlo events, casino-style fundraisers using cards, dice, or wheels, in any rolling 12-month period, and no single event can run longer than 12 hours. Bingo and lotto games face a separate cap: no more than 20 hours of play and four calendar days in any one week.

What happens if a licensed charity violates Oregon's gaming rules?

The Department of Justice can suspend or revoke the license and impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation under ORS 464.470(2). Separately, ORS 464.995 makes false statements to DOJ, refusing an inspection, or violating the chapter's rules a Class A misdemeanor, which is grounds for suspension or revocation on top of any criminal exposure.

Who regulates charitable bingo and raffles in Oregon?

The Oregon Department of Justice's Charitable Activities Section licenses and oversees bingo, lotto, raffle, and Monte Carlo fundraising under ORS chapter 464. An organization must be tax-exempt as a charitable, fraternal, or religious group and have held that status for at least a year before DOJ will issue a license, per ORS 464.270.

Sources

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