IMPORTANT NOTICE: A Declared State of Disaster is currently in place across Victoria. For more information, see: COVID-19 information for licensees
This page contains information on how to apply for permission to run bingo.
Bingo is a form of ‘minor gaming’ where players receive a ticket (or tickets) with randomly numbered squares. Players mark off the numbers as they are randomly drawn and announced. The aim depends on the version of bingo being played. To win, a player must be the first to mark off all numbers on their ticket and call ‘bingo’, ‘pattern’ or ‘bingo’ or make an audible noise or have another person make the call on his or her behalf.
Bingo may be conducted for fundraising purposes by organisations declared (registered) by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) as a community or charitable organisation.
A licensed bingo centre operator on behalf of a declared community or charitable organisation can also run bingo sessions. The bingo centre operator may charge a fee to run bingo and may recover their expenses up to a set limit.
As stated by the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (the Act), a person cannot operate a bingo centre unless they hold a bingo centre operator’s licence.
Download and complete the Declaration as a community or charitable organisation application form . The application must be lodged no less than 21 days before the gaming activity is carried out as stated in the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (the Act).
The declared community and charitable organisations (database) is an up-to-date listing of organisations that have been approved by the VCGLR.
The nominee is responsible to ensure that the activity is conducted in compliance with gaming laws, rules of the game and permit conditions. It is a requirement under the Act that community or charitable organisations that hold a minor gaming permit must appoint a nominee. Should the nominee change, the organisation must notify the VCGLR as soon as the change occurs.
The nominee is responsible on behalf of the organisation for the running of bingo sessions, and is liable under the Act.
To apply to become a new nominee, complete the online form or please download and complete PDF version here.
To notify the VCGLR of a new bingo nominee, download and complete the Notification of a new bingo nominee.
If your organisation is already declared, an additional Notification of intention to conduct bingo sessions must be lodged with the VCGLR at least 14 days before the first session of bingo.
This is regardless of whether you are running bingo sessions or having them run by a bingo centre operator for your organisation.
Should the VCGLR grant your application, we will send a "Notice of authorised bingo", which must be displayed in a prominent place at the venue.
If your organisation is not already declared, you must apply for it to be declared and you should allow at least 28 working days.
Note: No restrictions are placed on the number of sessions of bingo that can be run by, or for any, community or charitable organisation.
How do you apply to run bingo? Check out this page.
