Ohio Charitable Gaming

Ohio allows bingo for charitable purposes. Charitable gaming was administered by the Attorney General's office until 2004, when it moved under the aegis of the Ohio Lottery Commission.

Due to an increase in fraudulent activity, the Ohio Legislature revised the state's charitable bingo laws in 2004. The new law ensured any entity looking to conduct traditional or instant bingo must be approved as a charitable organization by the Attorney General's office and issued a license by the Ohio Lottery. The new law permitted the charitable organization to retain 75% of the first $75,000 profit made from instant bingo for reimbursement of expenses, with the remaining 25% going to charity.

Tax-exempt organizations can hold games of chance at festive events; however, they cannot persist for more than four consecutive days two times per year or more than five consecutive days one time per year.