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

Is bingo legal in Montana?

Yes, and Montana does it differently from almost everywhere else. Live bingo is not limited to charities. For-profit businesses, nonprofits, retirement homes and senior citizen centers can all run pay-to-play bingo, under Title 23, Chapter 5, Part 4 of the Montana Code and rules enforced by the Gambling Control Division of the Department of Justice.

Bingo also turns up on Montana’s video gambling machines. The machines found in many bars can offer bingo, keno and poker games, and they are licensed under a separate part of the gambling code. This page focuses on live bingo with a caller.

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

You must be 18. Montana law (MCA 23-5-158) bars anyone under 18 from gambling, and the Gambling Control Division’s July 2026 bingo guidelines repeat that players in recurring live bingo and casino-night bingo must be 18.

There is one family-friendly exception: free bingo. If there is no entry fee and no required donation, it is not gambling, so kids can play at school bingo nights, community centers and brewery game nights. Free bingo also needs no license, permit, tax or recordkeeping.

Can you play online bingo for real money in Montana?

No. Montana has not authorized online casino games, and live bingo rules require players to be physically present to win. Any site offering cash bingo to Montanans is unlicensed.

Our online bingo guide covers free-play apps that stay on the right side of the law. If gambling is becoming a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.

Are sweepstakes bingo sites legal in Montana?

No. Montana became the first state to explicitly ban online sweepstakes casinos when Gov. Greg Gianforte signed SB 555 in May 2025. The law did not use the word “sweepstakes.” Instead, it widened the definition of illegal internet gambling to include online casinos played with any form of currency, which captures the dual-currency coin systems these sites use.

The ban took effect October 1, 2025, and knowingly violating it is a felony. Major operators withdrew from Montana in the second half of 2025. Our sweepstakes bingo explainer explains why other states have since followed.

Where can you play bingo in Montana?

Most live bingo in Montana is played inside licensed gaming businesses, alongside nonprofit games at lodges and veterans posts and members-only games at senior centers. We have not listed individual venues because we could not confirm current schedules from venue or state sources. Several tribal nations in Montana run casinos, but we could not verify a tribal bingo hall with current live sessions.

The Gambling Control Division can tell you which businesses hold a live bingo permit in your area.

How to run a bingo game in Montana

The process depends on who you are. All recurring live bingo uses standard 5×5 cards (other formats need approval), a $1 maximum per card, an $800 maximum per game, and no progressive pots.

1. For-profit businesses need a gambling operator license (Form 5) and a live bingo permit (Form 25, $250). Payouts are capped at $3,000 per session, sessions must run at least two hours or 20 straight games, and proceeds are taxed at 1%, with the tax going to the local city or county.
2. Nonprofits need the same operator license plus a permit (Form 25, $125). They may run gambling on no more than 60 days a year and are exempt from the bingo tax. Off-site games at another charity or a government event like a county fair are limited to 50 cents a card and $100 a prize.
3. Retirement homes and long-term care facilities need a license if they charge to play, file Form 25 with no fee, and limit games to residents and guests.
4. Senior citizen centers need no forms or fees, but games must be for members and guests and cannot be advertised commercially.
5. Casino nights: a nonprofit can include bingo played with imitation money at one permitted casino night a year.

Planning a fundraiser? Our bingo fundraiser guide helps with pricing and prizes. Heading south? Compare the rules in Wyoming.