Idaho Gaming License
Idaho issues no commercial or online gaming license. Idaho's only gaming license for an organization is the Idaho charitable gaming license for bingo and raffles. The Idaho State Lottery grants it under Idaho Code Title 67, Chapter 77 (Sections 67-7701 et seq.). Idaho licenses no casinos, sportsbooks or online operators.
| Commercial or online license | None. Idaho Constitution Article III, Section 20 permits only the state lottery, pari-mutuel betting and charitable bingo and raffles |
|---|---|
| License that exists | Idaho charitable gaming license, covering both bingo and raffles |
| Regulator | Idaho State Lottery, Enforcement Division (charitable gaming since 1992) |
| Who qualifies | Tax-exempt charitable or nonprofit organizations with one year of continuous existence in the county of operation |
| Bingo threshold | Gross annual bingo sales of $10,000 or more (Section 67-7713) |
| Raffle threshold | Aggregate value of merchandise prizes above $5,000 (Section 67-7713) |
| First-year fee | $100, nonrefundable (Section 67-7712) |
| Timeline | 15 calendar days from receipt of the application (Section 67-7711) |
| Taxation | No state gaming tax. At least 20% of bingo gross revenue and at least 80% of raffle net proceeds go to charitable purposes |
Two different readers land here. A nonprofit weighing a bingo night or a fundraising raffle needs the thresholds, the fee table and the operating caps below.
An operator hunting a commercial or online Idaho license needs the short answer instead: Idaho issues none, and the next section sets out why.
Is commercial or online gambling licensed in Idaho?
No. Idaho Constitution Article III, Section 20 permits three forms of gambling only: the state lottery, pari-mutuel betting, and bingo and raffle games run by qualified charitable organizations. Idaho has no commercial casino license, no online casino or sportsbook license, and no Idaho gaming permit for B2C or B2B operators.
Article III, Section 20(2) closes the obvious workaround. None of the three permitted activities may employ casino gambling, and the subsection names blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, baccarat, keno and slot machines. Any electronic or electromechanical imitation or simulation of casino gambling falls under the same bar.
Tribal casinos run on a separate legal track. Idaho Code Sections 67-429B and 67-429C, added by Proposition 1 in November 2002, allow tribal video gaming machines under state-tribal compacts. A compact is negotiated government to government, so no business can apply for one.
Paid daily fantasy sports left the state in 2016. The Idaho Attorney General found that paid contests met Idaho's definition of gambling, and DraftKings and FanDuel stopped serving Idaho customers from 1 May 2016. Free contests continued.
Pari-mutuel betting on horse racing stays legal under Idaho Code Title 54, Chapter 25. Live dog racing does not. Section 54-2514A made live dog races and betting on them illegal, with a narrow simulcast exception for a facility licensed before 1 January 1996. Running or betting on a live dog race is a felony.
Who regulates charitable gaming in Idaho?
The Idaho State Lottery has regulated charitable gaming in Idaho since 1992. Its Enforcement Division handles licensing, audits and compliance, and a Charitable Gaming Coordinator takes applications and questions. No body called the Idaho Gaming Commission exists. A bingo-raffle advisory board advises the Idaho State Lottery Commission, the governor and the legislature.
Two roles sit inside one agency. One side sells state lottery games as a commercial product. The same agency licenses and audits charitable bingo and raffles. Regulator and lottery operator are one organization here.
The bingo-raffle advisory board has six members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate, under Idaho Code Section 67-7704. One member comes from each of six statutory districts. Members serve three-year terms, and no more than three may belong to the same political party. This advisory board recommends rules to the Idaho State Lottery Commission, the governing body of the Idaho State Lottery, and issues no licenses itself.
Operating detail lives in the administrative rules. IDAPA 52.01.03, Subchapter C, covers the conduct of bingo, the conduct of raffles, licensing and license fees, vendors' licenses and license revocation.
Who can get an Idaho charitable gaming license?
Only a bona fide tax-exempt charitable or nonprofit organization can hold an Idaho charitable gaming license. Idaho Code Section 67-7702 requires continuous existence for one year in the county where the games will run. The same section requires IRS tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3), (4), (6), (8), (10), (19) or 501(d). Businesses and individuals do not qualify.
The same definition opens a second route. Section 67-7702 also recognizes organizations incorporated under Idaho Code Title 30, Chapter 30, and groups exempt under Idaho Code Title 63.
Section 67-7702 names the qualifying categories: charitable, civic, religious, fraternal, patriotic and veterans organizations, nonprofit volunteer fire departments, nonprofit volunteer rescue squads, nonprofit volunteer educational booster groups and parent-teacher organizations. Political organizations, including PACs, do not qualify.
The one-year county rule is a hard bar. A new nonprofit cannot apply in its first year. An established nonprofit cannot move into a new county and start games there straight away.
When do you need an Idaho charitable gaming license?
You need an Idaho charitable gaming license once you cross a threshold set by Idaho Code Section 67-7713. Bingo needs a license at $10,000 or more in gross annual bingo sales. Raffles need one when the aggregate value of merchandise prizes exceeds $5,000. A single license covers both activities.
| Activity | License threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bingo | Gross annual bingo sales of $10,000 or more | Idaho Code Section 67-7713 |
| Raffle | Aggregate value of merchandise prizes above $5,000 | Idaho Code Section 67-7713 |
| Duck race | Treated as a raffle, same threshold | Idaho Code Sections 67-7702 and 67-7710 |
| Tribal video gaming machines | No state license, compact only | Idaho Code Sections 67-429B and 67-429C |
Below the threshold you are exempt from the license, not from the rules. Prize caps, event limits, fund splits and record keeping still apply.
Idaho bingo license
An Idaho bingo license covers sessions run by a licensed nonprofit under Idaho Code Sections 67-7707 to 67-7709. Sessions are limited to three per week and eight hours per day. Idaho State Lottery rules cap the top prize at $3,000 for one game and $25,000 across one session (IDAPA 52.01.03.319).
Statute splits the money. Section 67-7709 sends at least 20% of gross revenue to charitable purposes and caps administrative expenses at 18% of gross revenue. Wages for running a session count inside that 18%, capped per session at $250 or one-tenth of one percent of annual gross revenue, whichever is greater.
Section 67-7702 sorts the formats. Instant bingo falls outside the legal definition of bingo, and card-minding devices and autodaubing are prohibited outright. Electronic bingo cards and player-operated electronic bingo devices stay legal under the same section, provided the player enters each announced number manually.
Age limits apply per game rather than per venue. Section 67-7707 bars anyone under 18 from bingo that offers a cash prize, or a merchandise prize worth more than $25.
Idaho raffle license
Idaho raffle license holders run drawings under Idaho Code Section 67-7710. Drawings must be held in Idaho and are limited to 12 per organization per year. The maximum aggregate cash prize for one raffle is $1,000, and merchandise that cannot be redeemed for cash carries no value limit.
Schools sit outside the cap. Section 67-7710 exempts public and private elementary schools, secondary schools and higher education institutions located in Idaho. Idaho State Lottery guidance and IDAPA 52.01.03.401 count 12 events rather than 12 drawings and name only elementary and secondary schools, so plan against the statute and confirm your own count with the Idaho State Lottery.
At least 80% of net proceeds must fund charitable, religious, educational or civic purposes. Net proceeds mean gross receipts less the cost of prizes awarded.
Duck races count as raffles under the same section. Cash prizes in a duck race carry no ceiling when underwritten by insurance. Without insurance the $1,000 cap applies.
What are the requirements to apply?
Four things carry an Idaho charitable gaming license application. You show tax-exempt status, legal existence, one year in the county, and clean background checks on the people running the games. The Idaho State Lottery also expects a separate bank account and a working record-keeping system.
IRS determination letter confirming 501(c) status, or the Idaho exemption you rely on
Certificate of existence from the Idaho Secretary of State for organizations incorporated under Title 30, Chapter 30
Evidence of one year of continuous activity in the county where the games will run: bylaws, bank statements, meeting minutes or board member lists
Background check forms for the president or chairman, the treasurer, and the person managing events
A bank account held separately from other organization funds
Records of tickets sold, gross revenue, prize values and disbursements, kept for five years
No corporate structuring belongs in this file. Idaho does not ask for a new holding company, a notarized offshore document set or a business plan. The license attaches to an existing Idaho nonprofit.
How much does an Idaho charitable gaming license cost?
An Idaho charitable gaming license costs $100 in the first year. Idaho Code Section 67-7712 makes the fee annual, nonrefundable and payable when you submit the application. Renewal is priced on the previous year's gross revenue from bingo or raffle operations, from $100 up to $300.
| New organization, no revenue history | $100 |
|---|---|
| Less than $25,000 | $100 |
| $25,000 to $75,000 | $200 |
| Over $75,000 | $300 |
Your first annual report sets the renewal price. Section 67-7712 uses the gross revenues shown in that report to fix the next fee band.
Idaho charges no gaming tax on charitable bingo or raffles. Statutory fund splits take that place instead: at least 20% of bingo gross revenue and at least 80% of raffle net proceeds go to charitable purposes.
How it works
How do you apply for an Idaho charitable gaming license?
Navigating the gaming license process can be complex. Here's a streamlined guide to each step.
Applying for an Idaho charitable gaming license takes one filing with the Idaho State Lottery, not a multi-stage corporate build. You confirm eligibility and collect proof of tax-exempt status and existence. Then you submit the packet with the nonrefundable fee, clear background checks, and get a decision within 15 calendar days.
Can you sell Idaho raffle tickets online?
Idaho neither bans nor authorizes online raffle ticket sales. The Idaho State Lottery tells organizations considering internet sales to consult private counsel, the Department of Justice or the local US Attorney. Some legal opinions read such sales as a breach of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 or the Wire Act of 1961.
Two separate exposures sit behind that warning. Federal statutes carry civil and criminal penalties. A buyer in another state can also pull both buyer and seller under that state's law.
One Idaho rule holds whatever the sales channel. Section 67-7710 requires the drawing itself to be held in Idaho.
States differ sharply here. New York runs a formal internet raffle application. Idaho has no equivalent process, and silence is not permission.
What are the rules for running bingo and raffles?
Idaho fixes prize caps, event limits, fund splits and record keeping for licensed charitable gaming. Bingo runs to three eight-hour sessions a week, with at least 20% of gross revenue to charity. Raffles run to 12 drawings a year, with at least 80% of net proceeds to charity. Records stay for five years.
Four formats are closed to licensed organizations: instant bingo, poker runs, Calcuttas and casino nights. Casino-style games stay available as entertainment only, on Idaho State Lottery guidance, if the organization removes either the payment to play or the prizes. The Idaho State Lottery treats bingo, raffles and duck races as the whole of legal charitable gaming.
Enforcement escalates in steps. Published Idaho State Lottery procedure runs a warning letter first, then probation of at least one year with records filed every three to six months, then revocation.
Penalties run on two tracks. Idaho Code Sections 67-7707 and 67-7710 allow a civil penalty up to $10,000 per violation. Anyone knowingly running games outside the chapter can also be charged under Idaho Code Title 18, Chapter 38. Gambling there is a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
A license can be suspended or revoked. Section 67-7712 lists the grounds, from losing tax-exempt status to denying the Idaho State Lottery access to gaming locations and records. Written notice follows, and the licensee then has 15 calendar days to request a hearing.
Rules on this page come from Idaho Code and published Idaho State Lottery guidance. Check your own position with Idaho counsel before you run an event.
How can a business run a promotion or drawing in Idaho?
A business cannot hold an Idaho charitable gaming license, but it can run a promotional drawing. Idaho Constitution Article III, Section 20(4) and Idaho Code Section 18-3801(4) exclude merchant promotional contests and drawings from gambling. The exclusion holds when they run incidentally to a genuine nongaming business and charge participants nothing.
Free entry is the whole test. Charge for a chance and the promotion becomes gambling. Hand the chance out free of charge and it does not.
Retail game-piece promotions work on this basis, and the Idaho State Lottery names the McDonald's Monopoly game as its own example. The rule is simple: give at least one free entry to anyone who asks, then award extra chances on purchases if you want to.
A second route runs through a nonprofit. A business can sponsor a licensed charitable organization or supply its prizes, while the nonprofit holds the license and runs the raffle. Running the games for a fee or a share of the profit is barred: Section 67-7701 states that purpose, and Section 67-7711 stops an organization from contracting the conduct of its games out to anyone.
One more license exists on the supply side. IDAPA 52.01.03.600, under Idaho Code Section 67-7715, requires a vendor's license from anyone who manufactures, sells, distributes, furnishes or supplies gaming devices, equipment or materials in Idaho. Licensed organizations must buy bingo paper and bingo equipment from a vendor the Idaho State Lottery has licensed.
What are the disadvantages and risks of Idaho charitable gaming?
Idaho charitable gaming carries real limits. Only tax-exempt nonprofits qualify, prize and event caps sit low, reporting never stops, and the online sales question has no clean answer. A business looking for a commercial or online Idaho license will not find one at any price.
Eligibility is closed. Businesses, individuals and first-year nonprofits cannot hold the license.
The county rule slows you down. You need one year of presence in each county where you want to run games.
Caps sit low: $3,000 per bingo game, $25,000 per session, $1,000 cash per raffle, 12 raffles a year.
Fund splits leave little room. Bingo administrative expenses cannot pass 18% of gross revenue.
Reporting continues year on year: annual statement, five-year records, and an audit above $200,000 in bingo or raffle revenue.
Enforcement bites. Civil penalties reach $10,000 per violation, and criminal charges sit under Idaho Code Title 18, Chapter 38.
Online sales stay unresolved. The Idaho State Lottery points to federal statutes and tells you to take legal advice.
Why work with MGL Solutions?
MGL Solutions answers the Idaho question straight. We tell you whether a license is needed at all, then test eligibility against the tax-exempt and one-year county rules. We prepare the IRS and Secretary of State documents, file with the Idaho State Lottery, and hold the compliance calendar afterwards.
What we do not do is sell an Idaho commercial or online license, because Idaho issues none. Operators who need a licensed online market should start from the gambling license options that do exist.
Across jurisdictions that license operators, MGL Solutions has obtained 300+ licenses.
FAQ
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Idaho issues neither. Article III, Section 20 of the Idaho Constitution permits only the state lottery, pari-mutuel betting and charitable bingo and raffles. Idaho has no commercial casino license, no online license and no B2C or B2B operator license.
Only bona fide tax-exempt charitable or nonprofit organizations, with one year of continuous existence in the county of operation. Idaho Code Section 67-7702 also covers nonprofits incorporated under Title 30, Chapter 30. Businesses and individuals cannot run them.
An Idaho raffle license is required once the aggregate value of merchandise prizes exceeds $5,000. Below that figure a nonprofit runs exempt from the license, though prize caps, the 12-drawing limit and record keeping still apply.
Yes, once gross annual bingo sales reach $10,000 or more, under Idaho Code Section 67-7713. Organizations that run bingo weekly usually pass that figure within a year.
First-year cost for an Idaho charitable gaming license is $100. Renewal follows the previous year's gross revenue: under $25,000 costs $100, $25,000 to $75,000 costs $200, and over $75,000 costs $300.
Idaho Code Section 67-7707 bars anyone under 18 from bingo games that offer a cash prize, or a merchandise prize worth more than $25. State lottery products also carry an 18 minimum.
Businesses are shut out of the Idaho charitable gaming license. Two routes remain: a merchant promotional drawing with no consideration charged, which Idaho Code Section 18-3801 excludes from gambling, or sponsorship of a licensed nonprofit's raffle.
Idaho has no rule permitting or prohibiting online raffle ticket sales. The Idaho State Lottery advises consulting private counsel, the Department of Justice or the local US Attorney. Its guidance points to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and the Wire Act.
Charitable gaming in Idaho has sat with the Idaho State Lottery since 1992, through its Enforcement Division and a Charitable Gaming Coordinator. A bingo-raffle advisory board of six members, appointed by the governor, recommends improvements to rules and operations.
There is no federal licence. Each state decides for itself, and most of them license neither online casino nor betting.
US gambling licensing, state by stateWhere a licence exists, where only betting is allowed, and what to run in the restOverviewSend your organization's status and what you plan to run. We will say whether a license is required and whether you qualify.