Start with the regulator, not with a checklist
Running a bingo game in Arkansas is a regulated activity, and the requirements that apply to you depend on who you are, where the game will be held, and what the proceeds will be used for. This article explains the structure of that process, not a step-by-step path to approval. The authoritative current answer lives with the state authority that oversees charitable gaming in Arkansas, and with licensed gaming counsel.
The published list documents 3 venues in Arkansas, but that list is a snapshot of commercial and racinos—not a bingo hall directory and not a licence register. Bingo is often run by charitable, fraternal, or nonprofit organizations under a separate framework from commercial casinos. Do not assume that the venues named in that list have any connection to the bingo question you are asking.
What the published list documents
The list documents 3 venues across 3 cities: Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, and West Memphis. It classifies 2 as land-based and 1 as a racino. These are documented as a snapshot, not as a regulator licence count and not as a complete current list. Lists are edited at different times, so a count can lag an opening or a closure.
None of those venues is identified as a bingo hall. If you are asking about running a bingo game, the venue list is the wrong reference point. The right reference point is the Arkansas body that issues bingo licences and publishes the application forms, fee schedules, and operating rules.
The structural architecture of bingo regulation
Most US states that permit bingo treat it as charitable gaming rather than commercial casino gaming. That distinction changes everything about how you apply, who can run a game, and what happens to the money. Arkansas sits within that broad pattern, but the specifics are set by state law and by the rules of the issuing authority.
The general structure you should expect includes the following layers: an eligible organization must exist first; the organization must obtain a licence or permit; the game must be conducted by members of the organization rather than paid outside operators in many cases; equipment must be sourced from approved suppliers; and proceeds must be accounted for and used for the organization's stated charitable purpose.
| Layer | What it governs | Where the authority sits |
|---|---|---|
| Organization eligibility | Which nonprofits, fraternal bodies, or religious groups may apply | State charitable gaming authority |
| Licence or permit | Whether a specific game may be held on a specific date at a specific place | State charitable gaming authority |
| Conduct rules | Who may call numbers, sell cards, handle cash, and supervise the game | State rules and the licence conditions |
| Equipment and supplies | Where cards, blowers, and other materials must come from | State-approved supplier list |
| Proceeds and reporting | How revenue is tracked, what expenses may be deducted, and where net proceeds go | State reporting forms and audit rules |
This table is a generic map, not an Arkansas-specific checklist. The names of the actual forms, the actual fee amounts, and the actual eligibility test are published by the Arkansas authority and change over time.
Why the answer cannot be a fixed set of steps
Running a bingo game is not like renewing a driver's licence. The steps depend on the legal form of your organization, the municipality or county where the game will take place, the expected gross receipts, and whether you are a new applicant or a renewal. A church basement game in Pine Bluff and a large weekly hall in West Memphis may face different local requirements even if the state framework is the same.
Because local government often adds its own layer—zoning, occupancy, fire safety, and sometimes a local bingo tax or permit—the complete answer is never available from a single state document. You must check both the state authority and the city or county clerk where the game will be held.
What to confirm before you go
Before you spend money on equipment, rent a hall, or print cards, confirm each of the following with the named channels:
- That your organization's legal form is eligible under current Arkansas bingo law—confirm with the state charitable gaming authority.
- That the specific venue address is zoned and permitted for bingo—confirm with the city or county clerk.
- That the equipment supplier you plan to use appears on the current approved list—confirm with the state authority.
- That the fee you must pay is the current published fee, not an outdated figure from a forum or a third-party site—confirm with the authority's current fee schedule.
- That the reporting forms you will use are the current versions—confirm on the authority's own forms page.
Each of these items is changeable. A fee published last year may have been revised. An approved supplier may have been removed. A local ordinance may have been amended. The only reliable confirmation is the current document from the issuing body.
Where the venue list fits—and where it does not
The published list of casinos in Arkansas documents 3 venues. It is a geographic and typological snapshot, not a regulatory directory. It names Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Saracen Casino Resort in Pine Bluff, and Southland Casino in West Memphis. None of these is documented as a bingo hall, and none of them is a source for bingo licensing information.
If your question is about running a bingo game, the venue list answers a different question. It tells you where large commercial and racing-linked gaming venues are documented; it does not tell you how to obtain a bingo permit. Keep the two questions separate.
How to find the Arkansas authority
The Arkansas body that oversees charitable bingo is a public agency. Its website carries the application forms, the fee schedule, the eligibility rules, and the reporting requirements. Search for the Arkansas charitable gaming or bingo licensing authority, and look for pages labelled "applications," "forms," "fees," and "statutes."
Licensed gaming counsel in Arkansas can also advise on the specific legal form your organization should use and on any local ordinance issues. This article does not recommend any specific law firm or consultant, and it does not provide legal advice.
What commonly catches people out
The most common misstep is assuming that a commercial casino licence and a charitable bingo licence are the same thing. They are not. The published list documents commercial and racing-linked venues; bingo is typically a separate charitable framework. A second misstep is relying on a fee or form found on a third-party site that has not been updated. A third is failing to check the local municipal layer, which can stop a game even when the state layer is satisfied.
Each of these is avoidable by going to the issuing authority's own current documents before committing funds. The cost of a wrong form or an ineligible organization is far higher than the cost of a phone call or a careful read of the current rules.
FAQ
Does the published casino list tell me how to run bingo in Arkansas?
No. The published list documents 3 venues—Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Saracen Casino Resort, and Southland Casino—as a snapshot of commercial and racing-linked gaming. It is not a bingo hall directory and not a licensing guide. Bingo is generally regulated under a separate charitable gaming framework. The list answers a different question.
Can any organization run a bingo game in Arkansas?
Not automatically. Eligibility is set by state law and the rules of the Arkansas charitable gaming authority. Typically the organization must be a nonprofit, fraternal, religious, or similar body, and the game must be conducted under a permit. Confirm your organization's eligibility with the authority before spending money on equipment or a hall.
Where do I get the current bingo application and fee schedule?
From the Arkansas state authority that oversees charitable bingo. Its website publishes the current application forms, fee schedule, eligibility rules, and reporting forms. Do not rely on third-party sites or outdated figures. Also check the city or county clerk where the game will be held for any local permit or zoning requirement.
Play responsibly
Gambling should be treated as paid entertainment, never as a way to earn income or recover losses. 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738)
18+ or 21+ depending on where you are; follow the minimum age that applies to you.
This article is general information about how these mechanics work. It is not legal advice and not a recommendation to gamble or to use any particular operator. Availability and legality differ by jurisdiction — check the rules that apply where you are.