Illinois Charitable Gaming

Illinois has four statutes that authorize and regulate various aspects of charitable gaming: the Illinois Raffles Act, the Illinois Charitable Games Act, the Illinois Bingo Act, and the Illinois Pull Tab and Jar Game Act. For an organization to be eligible to operate charitable games, it must be a religious, charitable, educational, veterans, fraternal or labor organization and have been registered in Illinois for at least five years. There are special circumstances that may reduce this requirement to two years: if the organization operates as a nonprofit organization and is exempt from federal income taxation under Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3), (4), (5), (8), (10) or (19).

Organizations conducting charitable games are required to pay a $200 annual license fee.

Suppliers of gaming equipment are required to purchase an annual license for $500 or $1,500 for three years. An annual fee of $50 or a fee of $150 for three years is imposed on those who rent space to be used for a charitable game.

Charitable organizations in Illinois are allowed to hold up to four charitable game events per year. They are allowed to offer bang, beat the dealer, big six, blackjack, chuck-a-luck, craps, five-card stud poker, gin rummy, hold'em poker, keno, merchandise wheel, poker, pull-tabs and roulette. There is no limit on the number of bingo games these organizations may hold.