Bingo in Connecticut: Laws, Halls & Online Bingo (2026 Guide)

Is bingo legal in Connecticut?

Yes, town by town. Under Section 7-169 of the Connecticut General Statutes, bingo is allowed in a municipality only after its governing body votes to permit it, usually after a petition signed by at least 5% of local voters. Once approved, bingo stays legal there indefinitely unless the town votes it out the same way.

Games must be run exclusively by a charitable, civic, educational, fraternal, veterans or religious organization, a volunteer fire department or a grange, and the group must have been organized for at least two years. Permits come from the local municipal official, which the statute defines as the chief of police.

Connecticut is also where tribal bingo made history. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe opened a high-stakes bingo hall in 1986, the seed of what became Foxwoods, and the resort still runs one of the largest bingo halls in the country.

How old do you have to be to play bingo in Connecticut?

At Foxwoods, 18. The resort states that the legal age to play in its High Stakes Bingo hall is 18+, even though slots and table games are 21+.

Section 7-169 itself doesn’t set a player age for charity games, so the organizer’s house rules apply. Connecticut does carve out “recreational bingo” for senior citizen groups and parent-teacher organizations under separate sections of the law.

Can you play online bingo for real money in Connecticut?

Probably not, in practice. Connecticut legalized online casino gaming in 2021 for players 21 and over, through apps tied to the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes. The law doesn’t single out bingo, and we found no licensed Connecticut app offering traditional multiplayer bingo rooms as of October 2026, which is why we mark it as unclear.

Bingo-themed slot games are not the same thing as bingo. Our online bingo guide explains the difference. If gambling is getting out of hand, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.

Are sweepstakes bingo sites legal in Connecticut?

No. Connecticut became the second state to ban online sweepstakes casinos when Gov. Ned Lamont signed SB 1235 on June 24, 2025. As Public Act 25-112, the ban took effect October 1, 2025.

The law targets sweepstakes that aren’t tied to a genuine sale of goods or services, including those that simulate casino games, with a narrow carve-out for grocery-store promotions. Major operators wound down their Connecticut play in 2025. See our sweepstakes bingo explainer for background.

Where can you play bingo in Connecticut?

Foxwoods High Stakes Bingo in Mashantucket is the headliner: more than 30,000 square feet with over 2,200 seats, paper and video play, and themed specials such as its October 2026 Oktoberfest Bingo. The hall is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and seating is first-come, first-served.

Charity bingo runs in churches, fire halls and veterans posts in towns that allow it. Venues we verified are in the table below.

How to run a charity bingo game in Connecticut

Your first call is to the local police department:

1. Confirm your town allows bingo. If the town hasn’t voted it in, a petition from 5% of voters can force a vote.
2. Check eligibility. Your group must be an eligible type and must have been organized for at least two years.
3. Pick a permit class. Class A (one day a week, up to $75 fee), Class B (up to 10 straight days, up to $10 a day) or Class C (one day a month, up to $50).
4. Staff it with members. Only qualified members may run the game, though registered members of other groups can help with the municipal official’s approval.
5. File returns and pay the fee. Within 10 days after each game, file a return and pay the town 5% of gross receipts minus prizes.

Bingo equipment must come from registered manufacturers and dealers. Our bingo fundraiser guide covers the rest. Next door, see how Rhode Island handles bingo.