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

Is bingo legal in North Dakota?

Yes. North Dakota allows bingo, raffles, pull tabs and a long list of other games of chance when they’re run by licensed charitable, fraternal, veterans’, religious and similar organizations. The law is Chapter 53-06.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, and the Attorney General’s Office licenses organizations and collects the gaming tax.

What makes North Dakota different is scale. Charitable gaming in bars is part of daily life here, and electronic pull tabs have turned it into a multibillion-dollar business. The Attorney General’s preliminary fiscal year 2025 report (year ended June 2025) lists about $2.31 billion in gross proceeds from electronic pull tab devices. Bingo is a much smaller slice, at roughly $24 million.

How old do you have to be to play bingo in North Dakota?

It depends on the game. Section 53-06.1-07.1 sets the rules:

So a teenager can play a church bingo game with a parent, but nobody under 21 can touch the pull tabs sold at the same bar.

Can you play online bingo for real money in North Dakota?

No. North Dakota hasn’t legalized online casino games, and its charitable bingo is played at an authorized site. Even the state’s high-tech games are site-based: electronic quick shot bingo runs on handheld devices connected to an on-site system, not over the internet.

The one online exception is raffles. Licensed organizations can take electronic payment for raffle tickets if they verify the buyer is 18 and physically in North Dakota. For free bingo at home, see our online bingo guide.

Are sweepstakes bingo sites legal in North Dakota?

No state law specifically bans them as of October 2026, and we found no enforcement action by the state against online sweepstakes casinos. Industry trackers updated in September 2026 list North Dakota as a state where the major brands accept players.

That’s not the same as approval. North Dakota tightly controls who can offer gambling, and other states have closed this gray area by statute, including New York, New Jersey and Tennessee. See how sweepstakes bingo works before buying coin packages.

Where can you play bingo in North Dakota?

Bingo here runs at veterans’ clubs, Eagles and Elks lodges, churches and bars that host charitable gaming sites. The Attorney General publishes lists of gaming licensees, which is a good starting point for finding active organizations near you. We haven’t listed specific halls because we couldn’t confirm current bingo schedules.

North Dakota’s five tribal casinos focus on slots, table games and sports betting. We couldn’t confirm a tribal casino currently running live bingo sessions, so call ahead if that’s what you want.

How to run a charity bingo game in North Dakota

1. Check eligibility. Organizations generally need to have been active for two years, though the law allows waivers and simpler local permits for smaller groups like schools.
2. Choose a license or a local permit. Larger, ongoing games need a state license from the Attorney General. Small or occasional events may only need a local permit from the city or county.
3. Get site authorization. Each place you run games needs approval, and rent limits apply when bingo is played at a bar or another business.
4. Keep expenses in check. Allowable expenses are capped at 60% of adjusted gross proceeds per quarter.
5. Report and pay tax quarterly. Starting in fiscal year 2027, organizations apply, renew and file through the Attorney General’s Charitable Gaming Organization Portal.

Our bingo fundraiser guide covers the event itself, and our pull-tabs guide explains the game that drives most of North Dakota’s charitable gaming.

Electronic pull tabs move fast, and losses add up quickly. If gambling stops being fun, visit our responsible gaming page or call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.