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

Is bingo legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Pennsylvania’s Bingo Law lets nonprofit associations, such as churches, volunteer fire companies, veterans’ posts and civic clubs, run bingo to raise money. There’s no statewide bingo commission. Instead, the county treasurer in each county licenses and oversees games. In a home rule county or a first-class city without an elected treasurer, the governing authority’s designee does the job.

A license can’t be issued to an individual, and the association has to meet the law’s nonprofit definition. That’s why Pennsylvania bingo has a strong small-town character: most games are run by the fire hall or parish down the road.

Pull-tabs, punchboards and raffles are covered by a different law, the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act, and are also licensed through county treasurers.

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

The rule is 18, unless you’re with an adult. The Bingo Law’s operating rules say no person under 18 may play bingo unless accompanied by an adult. County application forms make the association certify it will enforce that.

The state’s commercial casinos, overseen by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, require players to be 21.

Can you play online bingo for real money in Pennsylvania?

This one needs a careful answer. Pennsylvania legalized online casino gaming in 2017, and adults 21 and over who are physically in the state can play online slots, table games and poker on sites licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

Online bingo is a different story. We found no PGCB-licensed site offering a traditional real-money bingo room, and coverage of the 2017 law describes online slots, table games and poker, not bingo. That’s why we mark this “unclear” rather than “legal.” If you see a site advertising real-money bingo to Pennsylvanians, check the PGCB’s list of licensed operators first.

Charity bingo, meanwhile, is an in-person game played at the licensed association’s premises. For free apps and other options, see our online bingo guide.

Are sweepstakes bingo sites legal in Pennsylvania?

The status is unsettled. As of October 2026 we found no Pennsylvania law that specifically bans sweepstakes casinos or sweepstakes bingo, and industry trackers updated in 2026 still list Pennsylvania as a state the major brands accept.

Neighboring New York and New Jersey banned them in 2025, and Pennsylvania’s gambling laws have not been tested against the dual-currency model, so we label the status unclear rather than allowed. Read how sweepstakes bingo works before buying coin packages anywhere.

Where can you play bingo in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania has no tribal casinos, so bingo here is almost entirely charity bingo. You’ll find it at:

• Volunteer fire companies, many of which run weekly bingo in their social halls
• Catholic parishes and other churches
• VFW and American Legion posts, Moose and Elks lodges
• Community and civic associations

We haven’t listed individual halls because we couldn’t confirm current schedules. Your county treasurer’s office can tell you which associations hold a license, and local newspapers often print weekly bingo listings.

How to run a charity bingo game in Pennsylvania

1. Make sure you qualify. Only nonprofit associations as defined in the Bingo Law can apply. Individuals can’t.
2. Apply to your county treasurer. Bring the application and the records your county requests. Chester County, for example, asks applicants to bring supporting records to the Treasurer’s Office for review.
3. Agree to the operating rules. These include the under-18 rule and limits on who can run the game.
4. Stay within prize limits. County guidance cites a cap of $500 for any single game, $4,000 for a jackpot game and $8,000 in total prizes per calendar day. Older printed versions of the law list lower figures, so confirm the current numbers with your county.
5. Use proceeds for your stated purposes and keep records ready for inspection.

For the event itself, our bingo fundraiser guide covers pricing, prizes and volunteers, and our pull-tabs guide explains the small games many halls sell between sessions.

If you play for money, keep it to a budget you’re comfortable losing. Free help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER, and our responsible gaming page has more.