Charitable Gambling Registration Program
Charitable Gambling -
quick FAQs
- Q: Do I need to fill out an application to host a charity "poker night" fundraiser?
- A: Yes. Nonprofit organizations and Gambling Equipment/Services Suppliers both need to register 30 days before the event takes place.
- Q: Are there registration fees?
- A: Yes. Annual registration fees for nonprofit organizations and gambling equipment/service suppliers are $100 each.
- Q: Where can I find the form to host a “poker night” fundraiser?
- A: : The forms for nonprofit organizations and gambling equipment/service suppliers can be found on our Forms page or by clicking http://ag.ca.gov/gambling/forms.php
- Q: Will I get something back from the Bureau of Gambling Control letting me know if my application has been accepted so that I may conduct the charity “poker night” fundraiser?
- A: Yes, once the application is processed and approved by the Bureau, a Certificate of Registration will be issued.
- For a complete list of FAQs:
- Charitable Gambling FAQs
[PDF 22 kb / 2 pg]
On January 1, 2007, a new California law Business and Professions Code sections 19985-19987 passed allowing eligible nonprofit organizations to hold "charity poker night" fundraisers. Nonprofit organizations and suppliers of equipment and/or services for such fundraising events must submit an annual registration form to the Bureau of Gambling Control for approval.
Controlled games which are an approved funding mechanism for these fundraisers are specified in the California Penal Code section 337j(e)(1) as “any poker or pai gow game, and any other game played with cards or tiles, or both, and approved by the Department of Justice, and any game of chance, including any gaming device, played for currency, check, credit, or any other thing of value that is not prohibited and made unlawful by statute or local ordinance.”
For a list of controlled games approved by the Department of Justice, please see the BGC Standard Game List.
Nonprofit organizations must register with the Bureau to host one event per calendar year. In addition to nonprofit organizations, businesses that supply controlled gaming equipment and/or services for fundraising events are also required to register annually.
No one under the age of 21 is allowed to participate at these fundraising events.
The new law does not allow the use of slot machines or Internet gaming for fundraising purposes. Other fundraising restrictions apply to charity bingo and raffle events. The Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Section regulates raffles (Raffles - Charitable Trusts - California Dept. of Justice - Office of the Attorney General). Nonprofit organizations must also register with the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts and file annual financial disclosure reports. To help charities stay within State laws, the Attorney General makes available various guides and publications, including the (Attorney General’s Guide for Charities). Please contact your local city, sheriff, or police department for inquiries regarding bingo.
Annual Registration Form for Nonprofit Organizations
Annual Registration Form for Suppliers of Gambling Equipment/Services
Charitable Gambling Registration Program Resources
Regulations – Bureau of Gambling Control
The Bureau monitors and tracks all applications received by the Charitable Gambling Program.
*Both charts provided on this page reflect information collected for 2010 calendar year registration. This does not include applications received during the 2010 calendar year for organizations applying for registration for the 2011 calendar year.
Based on the research of both nonprofit organizations and gambling equipment/service suppliers, the total number of requests to hold fundraisers using controlled games during the 2010 calendar year was 677 and the total number of requests to supply gambling equipment/services at fundraisers using controlled games during the 2010 calendar year was 130.
For more information on the Charitable Gambling Registration Program, contact the Bureau at BGCCharitableGambling@doj.ca.gov
