Bingo - Getting Started

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South Carolina Department of Revenue
Bingo Licensing and Enforcement
PO Box 125
Columbia, SC 29214-0945

Phone: 803-898-5393
Fax: 803-896-0130
Email: Bingo@dor.sc.gov

Operating Bingo in South Carolina

South Carolina allows nonprofit organizations, licensed by SCDOR, to legally operate bingo games to generate funds to support their charitable activities within the state. The nonprofit organizations may contract with a licensed promoter to manage, operate, or conduct a game. This page answers many questions for a nonprofit who is either new or has previous experience with operating and managing bingo sessions.

Do you and your nonprofit organization qualify?

Do you need a promoter?

Which class of Bingo License do you need? Do you also need a Retail License?

There are seven classes of Bingo Licenses offered, as well as a Catawba Indian Special License (SC Code, Section 27-16-110). The most common types of Bingo Licenses are Class B and Class C.

BINGO LICENSES	Class AA	Class B	Class C	Class C Hard Cards	Class D Fair	Class E	Class F
Promoter required	yes	yes	no	n/a	no	n/a	n/a
Volunteer operated	no	no	optional	yes	no	yes	yes
License cost	$4,000	$1,000	$0	$0	$100 (less than 10 days) or $200 (more than 10 days)	$500	$100
Days of play a week	1 per month	Max 5 days	7 days	7 days	Varies	Max 1 day	Max 1 day
Max number of jackpots per session	n/a	n/a	6	6	n/a	n/a	n/a
Jackpot amounts	n/a	n/a	$20.01 - $150	$20.01 - $150	$50	n/a	n/a
Minimum payout per session	$50,000	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Maximum gross proceeds per quarter	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	$30,000	$40,000
Entrance fee	$18	$5	none	none	$5 (optional)	$5 (optional)	$3 (optional)

Maintaining your Bingo License

A nonprofit organization may hold only one Bingo License.
The nonprofit organization does not need to renew the Bingo License as long as there are no changes in the operation or location of the game. The nonprofit organization is required to notify SCDOR within 30 days, with any change in information supplied on the application. In the case of a change in the place and time, notice must be given 30 prior to the change.
The nonprofit organization's license must not be transferred to another nonprofit organization. The license is valid and continues in force so long as the nonprofit organization to which it is issued continues to conduct bingo games at the location authorized by the license.

Do you need a Retail License?
A Retail License will be required if there will be sales of merchandise other than bingo paper. Some examples might be bingo dabbers, t-shirts, snacks, etc.

Still have questions about Bingo Licenses?
Our FAQ page may have the answers you are looking for.

Bond Requirements

Manufacturers and Distributors: Bingo Card Tax

Bingo cards include paper and tickets. Bingo tickets are used with electronic dabbers.

Bingo cards cannot be sold or transferred among other bingo organizations, distributors, or manufacturers.
Manufacturers and distributors of bingo cards must be licensed by completing the applications and paying the license fees shown below (licenses and their fees must be renewed annually):

Application for License to Manufacture or Distribute Bingo Game Cards (L-2128)

Bingo Card Manufacturer: $5,000
Distributor: $2,000

Application for License to Manufacture Electronic Bingo Tickets (L-2168)
- Electronic Bingo Ticket Manufacturer: $1,000

A bingo card manufacturer may not be licensed to operate a game as a bingo card distributor or as a promoter. A bingo card distributor may not be a manufacturer, a licensed nonprofit organization, or promoter. A licensed nonprofit organization or a promoter may not be a manufacturer or distributor.
A quarterly return is required by each manufacturer, distributor on or before the last day of the month following the close of the calendar quarter outlining those items SCDOR determines necessary to verify the sale and distribution of bingo cards.

Bingo Card Tax

Nonprofits: Bingo Checking Accounts, Filing Requirements, & Distributions

The following guidelines for establishing a bingo checking account applies to all licenses except for the Class D fair license:

An organization who holds a Bingo License must establish and maintain one regular checking account designated for and listed as the "Bingo Account."
All funds collected from bingo sessions, excluding the amount of funds which are awarded in cash prizes, must be deposited into the bingo checking account. Evidence of the deposit must be provided no later than the next business day following the day the bingo session occured.
Other funds may not be deposited into the bingo checking account, unless there is a deficit, in which case a loan or donation can be deposited. These loans and donations must be made in accordance with SC Code Section 12-21-4090(C) of the Bingo Tax Act and each loan and donation must be documented.
All expenses related to the charitable bingo operation must be paid from the bingo checking account.
Funds from the bingo checking account must be withdrawn by preprinted, consecutively numbered checks, jointly signed by a properly authorized representative of the licensed nonprofit organization and promoter.

Checks must show all of the following details:

"Bingo Account" must be pre-printed on the check.
The organization's Bingo License number must be on the front of the check.
The memo line must show what the payment is for on the front of the check.

The organization must control and oversee all deposits, transfers, and disbursements from a bingo checking account, including:

the payment of compensation to the promoter, and
the promoter's employees, and
the organization's employees working the bingo games.

More information related to bing checking accounts can be found in 12-21-4080 and 12-21-4090 of the Bingo Tax Act.

Filing Requirements

Monthly Bingo Distributions

Game Play

For a complete list of rules and refulations stated in in the SC Code of Laws regarding the manner of playing and conducting bingo, see SC Sections 12-21-3990 and 12-21-4000.

Do you need to charge an entrance fee?

What kind of equipment will be required?

Electronic Dabbers

Rules for conducting a bingo session

Each player must pay face value for each card to be played. All cards sold must sell for face value and may not be given to players as prizes or for free.
No bets or payments may be made while a game is in progress, except for the sale of cards for subsequent games.
Before beginning the first game, all seventy-five balls must be displayed openly on the master-board for the inspection of players.
Only one set of seventy-five balls and only one master-board is allowed in the room or area during game play.
Before each game begins, the caller shall announce the configuration(s), including wild card games, which will win the game.
Any time before the conclusion of the game, the prize specifically stating the dollar amount or value of merchandise awarded to the winner or winners of the game, must be announced.
The caller shall draw and announce numbers from the cage one at a time and balls must be selected randomly by an indiscriminate process. After the number is announced, it must be indicated on the master-board by the caller. All balls drawn remain on the master-board until the conclusion of the game.
The prize must be awarded to the winner(s) of the game without delay and for multiple winners, the prize must be divided equally.
Cash value of merchandise prizes may be divided evenly among multiple winners, and merchandise purchase receipts must be made available to the players and SCDOR for confirmation of value.
When a player has achieved the winning configuration and indicated it to the caller, the caller shall require that the player’s card be checked against the master-board in the presence of the other players. If it is determined that the player has achieved the winning configuration, they are declared the winner. If it is determined the player has not achieved the winning configuration, game play continues.
All winning configurations must be verified using an electronic verifying system and must be displayed on the monitor for all players to see.
At least fifty percent of the gross proceeds of the sale of bingo cards taken in by the house during a single session must be returned to the players in the form of prizes. For Class D licenses, this requirement must be met during the course of the fair.

Can I use a Bingo License to conduct sessions anywhere?

Can I hold special promotional games?

Bingo Laws (Bingo Tax Act) and Policy Guidance

Filings, Payments, & License Renewals

Securely submit the RD-9 return, violation payments, appeals, and your Bingo License renewal online with MyDORWAY, our free tax portal!

Bingo Paper Tax & Paper Orders

Pay Bingo Paper Tax and approve Bingo paper orders by downloading and installing SCDOR's JCENT Bingo Server Software.

Due Dates

Bingo Paper Tax is due within 15 days of the Bingo Voucher being approved by SCDOR.

Quarterly Reports are due by the last day of the month following the close of the calendar quarter.

Promoter, Manufacturer, and Distributor Licenses are valid for one year. A renewal application is due to SCDOR prior to the end date printed on the license.