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- It is illegal to operate the game commonly known as "bingo" without first obtaining a Bingo License from IDOR.
- It is also illegal to supply bingo equipment or provide a bingo facility to anyone who does not possess a current Illinois Bingo License.
- Anyone who operates a game "commonly known as bingo" without being licensed by IDOR may also be in violation of the Illinois Criminal Code related to gambling (720 ILCS 5/28-1 et seq.).
The law defines bingo in its commonly understood sense as a game in which each player has a card or board for which a consideration has been paid, either by the individual playing or by a third party, containing 5 horizontal rows of spaces, with each row except the central one containing 5 figures. The central row has 4 figures with the center space marked with the word "free" or otherwise designated as a predrawn or "free" space. "Bingo" also includes games that otherwise qualify under this paragraph, except for the use of cards where the figures are not preprinted but are filled in by the players.
In Illinois, whenever consideration is paid for the cards or boards in order to play bingo:
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You may access additional information by searching the entire Illinois Department of Revenue website.
If you have additional inquiries, you may submit them on the Questions, Comments, or Requests form.