West Virginia Statewide Rule

West Virginia Charitable Bingo and Raffle Licensing

Significant RestrictionsApplies statewide across West Virginia (2026)

Key Facts

Licensing agency: WV State Tax Commissioner
Annual bingo license fee: $500 ($200 or $50 for smaller/senior groups)
Limited-occasion bingo cap: 3 licenses/year, 12 hours each
Application deadline: 60 days before first occasion
Unlicensed raffle threshold: $4,000 max prize, $15,000 annual proceeds
First-offense penalty: $100–$1,000 fine, misdemeanor
Fraud penalty: $500–$10,000 fine, misdemeanor

Last verified: August 21, 2026

Summary

West Virginia bans commercial bingo and raffles but licenses both for charities. Under the Bingo Act and Charitable Raffles Act, Chapter 47, Articles 20 and 21, the Tax Commissioner issues licenses only to nonprofits that have operated in the state at least two years. Annual bingo licenses run $500 ($200 or $50 for smaller or senior groups); limited-occasion events cap at three per year, 12 hours each. Unlicensed small raffles are allowed under a $4,000/$15,000 threshold.

A license fee shall be paid to the Tax Commissioner for annual licenses in the amount of $500, except that for volunteer or nonprofit groups who gross less than $20,000 the fee shall be $200 and for bona fide senior citizen organizations the fee is $50.

View official code

Full Breakdown

West Virginia treats charitable bingo and raffles as licensed exceptions to its general gambling prohibition, not open commercial activity. The Charitable Bingo Act, W. Va. , lets a charitable or public service organization hold bingo occasions once it has existed in the state for two years and holds a valid Tax Commissioner license (§47-20-3). Applications go to the Tax Commissioner at least 60 days before the first occasion, and the Commissioner issues the license within five days of approval; licenses are non-transferable (§47-20-3, §47-20-4). Annual licenses cost $500, dropping to $200 for nonprofits grossing under $20,000 and $50 for bona fide senior-citizen organizations; limited-occasion licenses cost $100 and state fair licenses cost $500 (§47-20-6).

A charitable organization and its affiliates combined may hold only one annual license, or up to three limited-occasion licenses per year, each capped at 12 hours (§47-20-5). Occasions must stay open to the general public, and licensees may not knowingly let anyone under 18 play, though minors may attend with an adult relative or guardian (§47-20-5). Bingo proceeds are exempt from state and local business, income, excise and special taxes, and no county or municipality may impose its own bingo license or franchise fee: the state fee is exclusive (§47-20-6).

, licenses raffles the same way through the Tax Commissioner, open only to state residents active in a qualifying organization that has existed at least two years (§47-21-4). Smaller raffles skip licensing entirely: an organization in existence at least one year may run raffles with no license if any single prize is worth $4,000 or less and total annual raffle proceeds stay at or under $15,000 (§47-21-3).

Violations & Penalties

Knowingly violating the Bingo Act (outside the fraud section) is a misdemeanor carrying a $100–$1,000 fine on first conviction; a second or later conviction adds up to one year in jail on top of the fine (§47-20-20). Obtaining or helping someone obtain a bingo license through false or fraudulent pretenses is a separate misdemeanor punishable by $500 to $10,000 (§47-20-19). Unlicensed commercial bingo or raffles outside these statutory exemptions fall under West Virginia's general illegal-gambling law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a nonprofit need a license to hold bingo in West Virginia?

Yes. Any organization holding bingo must hold a valid Tax Commissioner license under W. Va. Code §47-20-3, requiring at least two years of existence in the state and a complete application filed 60 days before the first bingo occasion. Unlike raffles, there is no minimum-proceeds exemption that lets a group run bingo without a license.

Can a charity run a raffle in West Virginia without a license?

Yes, if it has existed at least one year and keeps individual prizes at $4,000 or less with total annual raffle proceeds at or under $15,000, per §47-21-3. Raffles above either threshold require a Tax Commissioner license under §47-21-4, which demands two years of organizational existence and a 60-day advance application.

How much does a West Virginia bingo license cost?

An annual license is $500, reduced to $200 for nonprofits grossing under $20,000 a year and $50 for bona fide senior-citizen organizations. A limited-occasion license, capped at three per year and 12 hours each, costs $100; a state fair license costs $500. All fees are paid to the Tax Commissioner under §47-20-6.

What happens if a group violates West Virginia's bingo law?

A knowing violation is a misdemeanor with a $100 to $1,000 fine on first conviction; repeat violations add up to a year in jail on top of the fine. Fraudulently obtaining a bingo license is a separate misdemeanor punishable by $500 to $10,000, under §47-20-19 and §47-20-20 of the Bingo Act.

Sources

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