North Carolina Charitable Gaming

Since 1983, North Carolina has permitted registered, eligible charitable organizations to offer bingo and raffles. Bingo is licensed by the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE) within the Department of Public Safety of North Carolina. The ALE is responsible for licensing charitable gaming operations, ensuring they are in compliance with the state's bingo laws, and enforcing those laws to prevent commercialized gambling. A bingo game is defined as a specific game of chance.

A charitable bingo license can be granted to nonprofit charitable, civic, religious, fraternal, patriotic, veterans or property owners' associations. They can also be given to volunteer fire departments and rescue squads. Nonprofits are required to apply to the ALE Bingo Section for a license to operate a charitable bingo game and pay an annual $200 nonrefundable fee. Licensed nonprofits can operate games no more than twice a week, 48 hours apart, for no longer than five hours per session. Alcohol is prohibited from being sold during these sessions.

In April 2019, The House agreed to a bill that allows nonprofits to host fundraising events featuring casino-style games and alcohol. The bill, which headed to the governor's desk, only applies east of Interstate 26 in order to comply with casino agreements with the Cherokee Indians.

In May 2019, the Governor Cooper signed the Game Night Bill (HB 130) into law, which allows casino-style games and alcohol at fundraising events for charities, employers, and trade associations of 25 or more employees or members.