Colorado Charitable Gaming License: Bingo and Raffle Rules for Nonprofits

Colorado nonprofits often turn to bingo and raffles to support mission-driven fundraising. But charitable gaming is not a casual side activity. It is a regulated process with eligibility rules, licensing requirements, reporting obligations, and operational limits that organizations must understand before selling a single ticket.

If your group is considering a raffle, bingo night, or another game of chance in Colorado, the safest approach is to treat the licensing process as part of your fundraising strategy from the beginning. That means confirming your organization is eligible, gathering the right records, designating trained leaders, and building a compliance process that can scale with your events.

This guide explains the basics of Colorado charitable gaming licensing, the organizations that qualify, the documents you typically need, and the compliance habits that help keep fundraising on track.

What Counts as Charitable Gaming in Colorado

In Colorado, charitable gaming generally includes bingo and raffles conducted by qualified nonprofit organizations under state law. These activities are regulated because they involve games of chance and fundraising from the public.

A few important distinctions matter:

• Bingo and raffle activities require a bingo-raffle license when conducted in Colorado.
• There is no minimum ticket price that makes a raffle exempt.
• A live or silent auction is not covered by the bingo-raffle license; it is treated as a charitable solicitation and may require separate charity registration unless an exemption applies.

The key point is simple: if your nonprofit wants to raise money through a game of chance, assume licensing and compliance rules apply until you confirm otherwise with the state.

Who Can Apply for a Colorado Bingo-Raffle License

Colorado limits charitable gaming licenses to qualified nonprofit organizations. In general, the organization must be a nonprofit that has been in continuous existence for at least five years before applying.

The state recognizes several types of qualified organizations, including:

• Religious organizations
• Charitable organizations
• Labor organizations
• Fraternal organizations
• Educational organizations
• Voluntary firefighters’ organizations
• Veterans’ organizations
• Bona fide chartered branches, lodges, or chapters of state or national organizations

The organization must also operate without profit to its members and maintain a dues-paying membership that has continuously carried out the organization’s purpose during the required period.

If your group is newly formed, it may not yet qualify for a bingo-raffle license, even if it has a strong charitable mission. In that case, the better long-term approach is to focus on building the entity, governance records, and organizational continuity first.

When a License Is Required

Colorado does not allow nonprofits to run even a small raffle without a license. If your organization is conducting any raffle activity in the state, you need a bingo-raffle license from the Secretary of State’s office.

The same principle applies to bingo operations. A nonprofit cannot simply decide to hold a game night and treat it as exempt because the proceeds are going to charity.

A few practical examples:

• A raffle at a community fundraiser generally needs a license.
• A bingo fundraiser at a church or veterans group generally needs a license.
• A silent auction for charity does not use the bingo-raffle license, but may trigger charity solicitation rules.
• A for-profit business cannot hold a charitable raffle under this license.

If your event falls anywhere near the line between a social promotion and a regulated charitable game, confirm the classification before advertising the event.

Documents You Usually Need for a New License

New applicants should expect to provide more than a basic form. Colorado looks for proof that the organization is real, qualified, and continuously active.

Typical new-license materials include:

• The bingo-raffle license application
• A roster of all bona fide active members who will assist with gaming activities
• Organizational documents such as articles, bylaws, charter, constitution, or similar records
• Documentation showing those governing documents were dated and executed at least five years ago
• Dated records in the organization’s name from each of the last five years to show continuous existence
• The annual fee

Examples of acceptable continuity records may include bank statements, audit statements, checks, periodic reports, publications, tax returns, exemption certificates, or other independent records.

The state may request additional supporting documentation if needed to confirm eligibility.

How the Application Process Works

Colorado offers both online filing and paper filing for bingo-raffle licenses. If your organization has been licensed before, renewal should be filed as a renewal through the existing account rather than as a new application.

A typical application workflow looks like this:

1. Confirm the organization meets the five-year eligibility requirement.
2. Assemble governing documents and continuity records.
3. Prepare the roster of active members who will support the games.
4. Submit the application and pay the required fee.
5. Wait for the state to review the filing and request any missing information.

If you are applying for a raffle that will take place in the following calendar year, Colorado allows some advance planning, but there are timing rules. In particular, applications for the next year generally cannot be processed until after November 1 of the current year, and the ticket must reflect both license years if the raffle spans years.

Because multi-year or cross-year raffle planning can get complicated quickly, it is wise to check the state’s guidance before printing tickets or announcing dates.

Renewal Rules Matter Too

A license is not something you file once and forget. Colorado requires ongoing renewal and reporting compliance.

For renewals, the state generally requires:

• The renewal application
• A roster of active members assisting with games of chance
• The annual fee

You do not need to resubmit proof of continuous existence every time you renew, but that does not mean you can ignore recordkeeping. The organization should continue preserving minutes, membership records, and financial documents that support the license.

One important operational detail: the state does not mail renewal notices. If your organization relies on a reminder letter, you may miss the renewal deadline. Put the renewal date on an internal compliance calendar and assign an owner to track it.

Games Manager and Operational Compliance

After a license is issued, day-to-day compliance becomes just as important as the application itself.

Colorado requires a designated games manager with a current valid certificate issued by the Secretary of State. That person must oversee the activity and remain present during the event, including for a period after a raffle drawing or bingo occasion.

Your organization should also make sure that:

• The current law and rules are available at the location where the activity is held
• Participants are informed of required prize disclosures and game rules
• Volunteers understand their responsibilities before the event starts
• Financial and operational records are retained consistently
• Required quarterly reports are prepared and filed when applicable

A strong internal process reduces the risk of mistakes that can lead to fines, delays, or loss of eligibility.

Common Mistakes Nonprofits Should Avoid

Many organizations run into trouble because they assume charitable gaming is simpler than it really is. The most common errors include:

• Assuming a small raffle is exempt from licensing
• Treating a silent auction as if it were a raffle event
• Waiting too long to verify whether the organization meets the five-year requirement
• Printing tickets before confirming license timing for a cross-year raffle
• Forgetting that renewal notices are not mailed
• Failing to assign a trained games manager
• Mixing gaming funds with unrelated organizational funds or failing to keep proper records

Most of these issues are preventable with a checklist and a clear compliance owner.

Where Zenind Fits In

Zenind is a US company formation service, so the best place to use Zenind is at the foundation of your organization. If you are setting up a nonprofit corporation or another legal entity that will eventually pursue charitable gaming, Zenind can help you organize the formation and maintain the records that support a clean compliance history.

That matters because charitable gaming licensing depends heavily on governance documents, continuity records, and a well-run entity. The better your formation and recordkeeping are from day one, the easier it is to support future licensing and operational compliance.

Practical Checklist Before You Launch

Before you plan a Colorado bingo night or raffle, confirm that you can answer yes to these questions:

• Is the organization a qualified nonprofit type?
• Has it existed continuously for at least five years?
• Do you have governing documents and records proving continuity?
• Have you identified the members who will assist with the gaming activity?
• Have you confirmed whether the event needs a bingo-raffle license or a different type of filing?
• Do you have a games manager who is properly certified?
• Have you built a renewal and reporting calendar?
• Are your tickets, disclosures, and event procedures aligned with state rules?

If any answer is no, resolve that issue before announcing the event.

Final Takeaway

Colorado charitable gaming can be a valuable fundraising tool, but it works best when it is treated as a regulated compliance process rather than a last-minute event. Qualified nonprofits need to confirm eligibility, gather documentation, file the right license, and maintain careful controls after approval.

For organizations that want to raise money responsibly, the winning formula is preparation, recordkeeping, and a repeatable compliance routine.