Kansas Charitable Gaming License: Bingo and Raffle Rules for Nonprofits

Kansas allows certain nonprofit organizations to raise funds through charitable gaming, but the rules are specific and the compliance burden is real. If your organization wants to run bingo or a raffle in Kansas, the first question is not whether the fundraiser sounds simple. It is whether your group qualifies, what type of license applies, and which filing deadlines control your event.

For nonprofits, charitable gaming can be a valuable revenue source. For regulators, it is a tightly controlled activity that depends on proper licensing, age restrictions, recordkeeping, and event procedures. Understanding those requirements before you plan an event helps avoid delays, rejected applications, and compliance problems after the fundraiser is over.

What Kansas Treats as Charitable Gaming

Under Kansas rules, charitable gaming generally includes:

• Call bingo
• Instant bingo
• Charitable raffles

These activities are lawful when conducted by qualifying nonprofit organizations and when the organization follows the state rules that govern licensing, ticketing, prize limits, reporting, and operating procedures.

That distinction matters because not every fundraising game is automatically legal. Kansas limits charitable gaming to specific nonprofit categories, and the organization must use the proper license for the type of activity it wants to conduct.

Who Can Conduct Bingo or Raffles in Kansas

Kansas restricts bingo and charitable raffles to qualified nonprofit organizations. Eligible groups generally include:

• Nonprofit religious organizations
• Nonprofit charitable organizations
• Nonprofit fraternal organizations
• Nonprofit educational organizations
• Nonprofit veterans' organizations

If the organization does not fall into one of those categories, it generally cannot legally operate bingo or a charitable raffle in Kansas.

That qualification step is important for new nonprofits. If you are still forming the entity, the organization should be properly structured and recognized before it applies for gaming authority. A strong corporate record, IRS tax-exempt status where required, and clean governance documents all help support a smooth filing process.

The Two Main License Paths

Kansas charitable gaming is not a single license with a single process. The state treats bingo and raffles differently.

Bingo Organization License

If your nonprofit wants to conduct call bingo or instant bingo, it needs a bingo organization license.

The Kansas Department of Revenue also uses additional categories for bingo-related activity, including:

• Bingo distributor registration
• Bingo premises registration

Those categories matter when a third party supplies bingo materials or when the event location itself must be registered.

Raffle License

If your nonprofit conducts raffles and annual gross receipts from raffle ticket sales exceed $25,000 during the July 1 to June 30 fiscal year, the organization must obtain a raffle license.

If gross receipts do not exceed $25,000, the organization generally does not need to register for a charitable raffle license under Kansas rules.

License Period and Timing

Kansas charitable gaming licenses run on a fiscal-year basis from July 1 through June 30. That matters because fees, thresholds, and reporting are tied to that cycle.

Timing is also critical:

• Bingo applications should be filed at least 14 business days before the requested start date.
• Raffle applicants must apply and receive the license at least 30 days before selling raffle tickets.
• Changes to bingo games, including date, time, or location changes, generally require written notice at least three days before the effective date of the change.

If your organization is planning a fundraiser on a fixed date, do not treat the application as a last-minute task. Build in enough time for review, corrections, and mailing.

Kansas Charitable Gaming Fees

Kansas uses a fee structure that depends on the type of license and, for raffles, the amount of ticket revenue.

Bingo Fees

• Bingo organization license: $25
• Bingo distributor registration: $500, plus an additional $1,000 bond
• Bingo premises registration: $100

Raffle Fees

Raffle fees are based on annual gross receipts from raffle ticket sales:

• More than $25,000 and up to $50,000: $25
• More than $50,000 and up to $75,000: $50
• More than $75,000 and up to $100,000: $75
• More than $100,000: $100

These fees are modest compared with the potential fundraising value of the event, but the organization must still track gross receipts carefully to know whether a license is required and which fee applies.

Kansas Bingo Rules Nonprofits Need to Know

Bingo has its own operating rules, and they are more detailed than many organizations expect.

Age and Participation Rules

For bingo games in Kansas:

• All persons working or assisting in conducting a call or instant bingo game must be at least 18 years old.
• There is no age limit to play call bingo, although the licensee may set a minimum age restriction.
• Instant bingo players must be at least 18 years old to purchase tickets.

If your organization uses volunteers, verify their ages before the event and make sure the roles assigned to them comply with the rules.

Prize Limits

Kansas places a prize cap on regular call bingo sessions. The current prize limit for regular call bingo games in a session is $1,620, effective July 1, 2025.

Organizations should confirm the current cap before hosting a session, especially if prizes are being donated, sponsored, or split across multiple games.

Money Handling

Kansas requires bingo revenue to be handled separately from other money. Revenue from call bingo and instant bingo must be deposited separately from other monies.

That separation is not just an accounting preference. It helps support audit readiness and makes it easier to show that gaming proceeds were used and reported properly.

Kansas Raffle Rules Nonprofits Need to Know

Raffles are popular because they can be simpler to run than a bingo operation, but Kansas still imposes detailed rules.

Ticket Requirements

For licensed raffles, each ticket should include:

• The name of the licensed nonprofit organization
• The Kansas raffle license number
• The word "Raffle"
• The date, time, and location of the drawing
• The price of the ticket
• A statement saying whether the participant must be present to win
• A unique sequential identification number on the ticket and stub

This information helps prove the raffle is tied to a specific licensed organization and a specific drawing.

Ticket Pricing and Payment

Kansas requires all raffle tickets for the same raffle to be sold at the same price. A discount may be offered for the purchase of two or more tickets, but only if the same discount is available to everyone who wants to participate.

Also:

• Tickets must be paid for in advance by cash, check, or credit card
• Credit may not be extended for the purchase of tickets

Online Ticket Sales

Kansas allows raffle tickets to be sold online, but online sales still must meet all other legal requirements. The fact that a sale happens digitally does not remove the need for proper licensing, disclosure, and recordkeeping.

Prize Restrictions

Kansas permits alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage as a raffle prize if the recipient is at least 21 years old.

If a firearm is offered as a prize, the Kansas Department of Revenue recommends finalizing the raffle through a Federal Firearms Licensee. That extra step helps confirm that the winner may legally possess the firearm.

What Must Be Included in a Raffle Application Strategy

A successful raffle filing is not just about submitting a form. The organization should be able to answer a few practical questions before it applies:

• Who will run the raffle?
• How will tickets be sold and tracked?
• Where will the drawing take place?
• What will the prize be?
• How will proceeds be deposited and reported?
• What will the organization do if the raffle grows beyond the $25,000 threshold?

Answering those questions early helps avoid last-minute changes that can complicate compliance.

Recordkeeping and Reporting

Kansas expects charitable gaming organizations to maintain detailed records. For raffles, recordkeeping may include:

• Date of the raffle
• Total gross receipts
• Total number of tickets available
• Number of tickets sold
• Number of tickets given away
• Number of tickets not sold and returned
• Ticket price
• Value of tickets sold and given away
• Names and addresses of winners
• Receipts for purchased prizes or the fair market value of donated prizes
• Deposit records showing that proceeds were placed into the organization’s bank account

For bingo, organizations also need to preserve the records required by the Kansas Department of Revenue and keep the gaming activity separated from other funds.

Good recordkeeping is not just about passing an inspection. It also gives the nonprofit a clear financial picture of whether gaming is actually helping the mission.

Common Compliance Mistakes

Many Kansas nonprofits run into trouble because they assume a charitable fundraiser is low-risk. The most common mistakes include:

• Starting ticket sales before receiving the proper raffle license
• Applying too close to the event date
• Failing to verify that the organization qualifies as an eligible nonprofit
• Mixing gaming revenue with other organizational funds
• Forgetting required ticket disclosures
• Using volunteers or staff who do not meet age requirements
• Missing the notice deadline for bingo changes
• Assuming online raffle sales are exempt from the normal rules

These problems are usually preventable if the organization plans the event like a regulated compliance process rather than a casual fundraiser.

How to Prepare Before You Apply

Before filing for a Kansas charitable gaming license, a nonprofit should gather the information that regulators typically need:

• Legal name of the nonprofit
• Federal tax-exempt status information
• Governing board and contact details
• Event dates, locations, and planned game format
• Projected raffle receipts or bingo activity
• Bank account or trust account information where applicable
• Volunteer and operator information

The more complete the initial filing, the less likely the application will bounce back for corrections.

Why Charitable Gaming Matters for New and Growing Nonprofits

For a startup nonprofit, a bingo night or raffle can be more than a fundraiser. It can be one of the first public-facing operations that shows the organization is real, organized, and mission-driven.

That is why it helps to treat gaming compliance as part of the broader business setup process. Entity formation, governance, tax status, and state licensing all work together. If the nonprofit is not structured correctly, the gaming opportunity can disappear before the first ticket is sold.

For organizations that are still forming, this is also where administrative discipline matters. Clean records, proper filings, and a clear compliance calendar reduce the risk of delays and protect the nonprofit’s reputation with donors and regulators.

Final Takeaway

Kansas charitable gaming can be a practical fundraising tool for qualified nonprofits, but the state rules are specific. Bingo and raffles each have their own licensing path, fee structure, deadline, and operating requirements. The organization must also manage age restrictions, ticket disclosures, revenue separation, and recordkeeping with care.

The safest approach is to plan early, verify eligibility, file on time, and keep detailed records from the start. That process protects the fundraiser, the organization, and the mission behind it.