The Fixed Position of the Question
This article cannot give you a straight-line mileage figure, because the query does not name a physical venue. The topic is a category of authorization, not a place. What sits still here is the legal structure of a bingo raffle license; what moves is the jurisdiction you are asking about, and the rules change from one state, county, or municipality to the next.
Any distance, driving time, or road route would be invented if I wrote it now. So this piece explains the mechanism of the license itself, then tells you exactly which official source holds the current answer for your location.
What the License Is
A bingo raffle license is a permission issued by a government body—most often a state gaming commission, a charitable gaming division, or a local clerk's office—that allows an organization to run bingo games or raffles where money changes hands. The license exists because these are forms of gambling in most jurisdictions, and gambling is generally prohibited unless a specific exception applies.
The exception is almost always charitable. The license converts what would otherwise be an unlawful game into a permitted fundraising activity for a qualifying nonprofit, religious group, school, veterans' organization, or similar entity. The license is not a business license in the ordinary sense; it is a regulatory clearance tied to a specific purpose and a specific organization.
What the License Covers and Does Not Cover
The scope of a bingo raffle license is narrower than most people assume. It typically authorizes the named organization to conduct the named activity—bingo, a raffle, or both—within a defined time window and at a defined location or set of locations. It does not authorize the organization to run other games, to sell alcohol, to operate slot machines, or to run an ongoing commercial gambling business.
Here is how the two activities compare under a typical combined license:
| Characteristic | Bingo | Raffle |
|---|---|---|
| Core mechanic | Players match called numbers on pre-printed cards; winners are determined by chance | Players buy numbered tickets; winners are drawn at random from all tickets sold |
| Typical operator | Charitable organization, often with volunteer callers and staff | Charitable organization, sometimes with tickets sold by members or at events |
| Revenue source | Card sales, sometimes bundled with admission or daubers | Ticket sales, sometimes with tiered pricing for multiple tickets |
| Common license condition | Proceeds must go to the stated charitable purpose after prizes and permitted expenses | Proceeds must go to the stated charitable purpose after prizes and permitted expenses |
| What the license does not cover | Electronic gambling machines, side bets, or games not listed on the license | Casino-style drawings, 50/50 splits unless separately authorized, or games not listed on the license |
Why the License Exists
The license is the state's way of keeping three things under control. First, it verifies that the operator is a genuine qualifying organization, not a commercial gambling business wearing a charity's name. Second, it sets accounting rules so that a stated portion of proceeds reaches the charitable purpose. Third, it creates a paper trail so that regulators can audit prize payouts, expenses, and the people running the event.
Without a license, running the same bingo night or raffle drawing would expose the organizer to civil penalties or criminal charges in most places. The license is what separates a permitted community fundraiser from an unlicensed gambling operation.
Who Issues the License
There is no single national bingo raffle license in the United States. Each state decides whether to allow charitable bingo and raffles at all, and if it does, which agency administers the program. In some states the authority sits with a state gaming commission; in others with a department of revenue, a secretary of state's office, or a charitable gaming division. In a few states, the local municipality or county clerk issues the permit under state enabling law.
This fragmentation is the single most important fact for a reader. The answer to "what is a bingo raffle license" is structurally the same everywhere, but the application form, the fee, the waiting period, the prize caps, and the eligibility rules are set by the specific jurisdiction. You cannot answer the practical question without naming the state, and often the county or city.
How the Application Process Is Structured
Most jurisdictions follow a similar sequence, though the details differ. The organization first proves its charitable or nonprofit status, usually with articles of incorporation, an IRS determination letter, or a state-level nonprofit registration. Then it names the officers or responsible individuals who will run the event, and those people may undergo background checks.
The application typically asks for the date or date range of the event, the location, the expected prize structure, and the intended use of proceeds. Some jurisdictions require a separate license for each event; others issue an annual license covering multiple events. Some require a bond or a separate bank account for gaming proceeds. None of these specifics can be stated here without a jurisdiction, and that is by design: the license is a local instrument.
What Changes From One Place to the Next
The variables that shift across jurisdictions are the parts a reader must confirm locally. Prize limits are a common variable: some states cap the value of a single bingo prize, others cap total prizes per session, and others leave it to the organization within broad reasonableness standards. Ticket pricing, the number of games per session, and whether pull-tabs or other instant games may accompany bingo are all jurisdiction-specific.
Raffles have their own variables. Some states distinguish between a raffle where tickets are sold only to members of the organization and one sold to the general public. Some require that the drawing occur on a specific date printed on the ticket. Some prohibit online ticket sales entirely; others permit them with additional conditions. The license document itself, once issued, states the conditions that apply to that organization for that event.
Where the Authoritative Answer Lives
The authoritative source is the gaming or charitable gaming authority of the state where the event will take place. If the event is in a municipality that issues its own permits, the city or county clerk's office is the second source. Both publish application forms, fee schedules, and eligibility rules on their official websites, and both are required to give you the current version of those rules.
Do not rely on a third-party summary, a forum post, or a vendor selling bingo supplies to tell you whether you need a license. The only document that matters is the one issued by the agency with authority over your location, and the only current version is the one on that agency's own site or in its office.
What to Confirm Before You Apply
Before you spend time or money on an application, confirm four things with the issuing agency. First, confirm that your organization type is eligible—some states limit bingo licenses to organizations that have existed for a minimum number of years or that serve a specific charitable class. Second, confirm the fee and whether it is per event or per year. Third, confirm the prize caps and whether any portion of proceeds must be documented as going to the charitable purpose. Fourth, confirm whether the license covers both bingo and raffles or whether you need two separate applications.
Ask for the current application form and the current statute or regulation citation. If the agency cannot give you a citation, ask for the written policy. Everything else is secondary.
FAQ
Does a bingo raffle license allow me to run both games?
Only if the license document says so. Some jurisdictions issue a combined charitable gaming license that lists bingo and raffles as authorized activities; others require separate applications. The license itself is the controlling document, and any activity not listed on it is outside the permission. Confirm the scope with the issuing agency before you advertise either game.
Is a bingo raffle license the same as a business license?
No. A business license authorizes a commercial enterprise to operate; a bingo raffle license authorizes a qualifying organization to conduct specific charitable gaming activities under regulatory conditions. The two are issued by different processes, often by different agencies, and holding one does not satisfy the requirements of the other.
Where do I find out if my state requires a bingo raffle license?
Start with the state gaming commission or charitable gaming division for the state where the event will occur. If that state delegates bingo and raffle permitting to counties or municipalities, the state agency will direct you to the correct local office. Use the agency's official website or office, not a third-party summary, to confirm current requirements.
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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.