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

Is bingo legal in Ohio?

Yes. Ohio treats bingo as a charitable fundraiser and regulates it closely under Chapter 2915 of the Ohio Revised Code. The Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section licenses the organizations, trains bingo workers, audits the money and takes enforcement action against groups that break the rules.

Only qualifying charitable organizations can get a license. They need IRS tax-exempt status in one of six categories, at least two years of continuous existence as a charity, and current filings with the IRS, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State.

Three kinds of bingo in Ohio

Ohio’s license system follows the type of game:

Instant bingo is Ohio’s name for pull-tab tickets. Electronic instant bingo, the screen-based version, is limited to veterans and fraternal organizations. Our pull-tabs guide explains how the tickets work.

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

18. ORC 2915.09 says a charity may not let anyone it knows, or should have known, is under 18 play bingo. The same age applies to bingo workers. Ohio’s casinos and racinos, which are regulated separately, require players to be 21.

Can you play online bingo for real money in Ohio?

No. Ohio legalized online sports betting in 2023 but has not legalized online casino games, and charity bingo is an in-person game at a licensed location. A 2025 bill to legalize online casinos (HB 298) stalled in the Legislature.

Free bingo apps that don’t pay cash are fine to play. See our online bingo guide for the differences between site types.

Are sweepstakes bingo sites legal in Ohio?

No state law specifically bans them as of October 2026, and we found no Ohio cease-and-desist action against online sweepstakes casinos. Major brands accept Ohio players.

Ohio has gone after sweepstakes before, though. The state cracked down on storefront “sweepstakes cafés” in the 2010s, and HB 298 would have banned online sweepstakes casinos while legalizing regulated ones. That bill stalled, but the Attorney General and the Ohio Casino Control Commission can still act under existing law. Learn how sweepstakes bingo works before you buy in.

Where can you play bingo in Ohio?

Charity bingo in Ohio runs at veterans’ posts, fraternal halls, churches, schools and dedicated bingo halls that several charities rent on different nights. Because each premises can host up to nine sessions a week, some halls have games most days.

The Attorney General’s Charitable Bingo pages include a list of authorized bingo locations, which is the most reliable way to find a licensed game near you. We haven’t listed individual halls because we couldn’t confirm current schedules. Ohio has no tribal casinos.

How to run a charity bingo game in Ohio

1. Confirm eligibility. Two years as a charity, an accepted 501(c) status and up-to-date filings.
2. Apply through the Attorney General’s Charitable Account Management Portal. You’ll need a year of meeting minutes, and bingo training is available from the AG’s office.
3. Open separate bank accounts. Each type of bingo needs its own checking account, even for groups that hold bingo only a few days a year.
4. Follow the session rules. No more than three sessions in any seven days and no more than $6,000 in traditional bingo prizes per session. Volunteer fire and rescue groups holding five or fewer sessions a year can skip some requirements by notifying the AG.
5. Choose workers carefully. Operators and volunteers can’t have felony or gambling convictions, and they owe fiduciary duties over bingo money.

If you rent space at a bar, keep it at arm’s length: the bar can host Type I bingo but can’t advertise, help run the game or sell concessions during it. Our bingo fundraiser guide covers the rest of the planning.

Bingo should be fun first. If it isn’t, visit our responsible gaming page or call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.