Bingo & Raffle License
Community Groups, Organizations, Service and Church groups often engage in various fund-raising activities, from car washes to bake sales to bingo and raffles. It is important to know what types of fund-raising activities the organization can engage in without violating the laws of New Jersey. The regulations governing the conduct of bingo and raffles are quite comprehensive.
Applying for a bingo or raffle license involves three basic steps:
- Registration with LGCCC as a qualified organization
- Governing body approval through the Municipal Clerk’s office
- Mandatory 15-dfay state review of the municipally approved application
Once a qualified organization receives its Registration Number from LGCCC (Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission), it may apply for a license from the Borough Clerk.
Not sure if you are a qualified organization?
Applications:
Applications for a bingo license are separate than that of an application for a raffle license, fees may vary depending on the type of activity. Also, bingo events may only be held at a location that has been approved by LGCCC. Before submitting your application for a bingo license (or basket bingo), please make sure the facility in which you intend to hold your event has been properly licensed through LGCCC.
- Applications for both bingo and raffle licenses must be submitted in quadruplicate (4 copies) to the Municipal Clerk at least forty-five (45) days prior to the event.
- All completed applications must include ORIGINAL (notarized) signatures and include the appropriate fee (see below), a copy of the Organization’s Registration identification certificate, and two (2) sample tickets. Organizations renting equipment should refer to LGCCC’s website for additional requirements.
- All applications must be submitted with the appropriate fee(s). When your organization submits its application, it must be accompanied by a check payable to LGCCC.
- Governing body approval* – Upon receipt of a completed application, the Borough Council must investigate the merits of each application and make specific findings, including that the responsible parties are of good moral character and never convicted of a crime.
- LGCCC approval – Within three days following the governing body’s review and approval*, the application is forwarded to LGCCC for a mandatory fifteen (15) day review period. If accepted by LGCCC, the Municipal Clerk will issue the license to the applicant. The license must be prominently displayed during the raffle/bingo event.
Please note that no later than the fifteenth day of the calendar month following the month in which a game of chance is conducted, the organization conducting the game and the member responsible for the conduct of the game must file a ‘Report of Operations’ with LGCCC. Failure to file may result in fines and penalties up to $7500.00 for a first offense.
Fees:
As noted above, when your organization submits its application, it must be accompanied by a check payable to LGCCC.
Listed below are the most commonly conducted types of fund raising events. For detailed information on the requirements / fees for other types of games, please refer to LGCCC’s website.
On-Premises Draw Raffle – 50/50 or merchandise in excess of four hundred dollars ($400) requires the fee as set forth above (twenty dollars ($20) for each day on which a drawing is to be conducted under the license) – Under four hundred dollars ($400) does not require a fee payable to the Control Commission.
Off-Premises 50-50 Raffle. Licensing fee payable by law to the Control Commission for this type of license is $20.00 paid at the time the application is filed for each day on which a drawing(s) is to be conducted under the license. In the event the awarded prize exceeds $1,000, then an additional fee of $20.00 for each $1,000 or part thereof in value of the awarded prize(s) in excess of $1,000 shall be forwarded to the Control Commission by check payable to the Commission together with the Report of Operations as required by N.J.A.C. 13:47-9.
Bingo (traditional bingo, basket bingo). Licensing fee payable by law to the Control Commission for this type of license is $20.00 for each occasion on which any game or games of bingo are to be conducted under the license.
Finally; New Jersey non-profit organizations can successfully raise funds through bingo or raffles. However, if the organization does not adhere to the bingo and raffles licensing laws or the regulations, the penalty may wipe out any profits realized. It is solely the responsibility of the organization and its responsible members to learn the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of conducting games of chance in the Borough of Magnolia. Should you need guidance, please feel free to contact the Municipal Clerk at (856) 783-1523 x110.
* Meetings are generally held the 1st Wednesday and the 3rd Thursday of each month. In order to be considered at a given meeting, the application must be turned in to the Municipal Clerk the Friday proceeding any scheduled Borough Council meeting.