FAQs

The proposed legislation would update Florida’s charitable bingo laws to provide clearer rules for veteran and fraternal service organizations that use bingo and instant bingo to support their missions.

The proposal is expected to focus on modernizing Florida’s existing bingo statute, clarifying how instant bingo tickets and regulated instant-bingo dispensers may lawfully operate, and ensuring charitable organizations have clear guidance under state law.

Florida’s charitable bingo laws were written decades ago and have not kept pace with modern technology or existing court decisions. As a result, service organizations that are acting in good faith can face confusion about what equipment is lawful and how instant bingo may be conducted.

The goal is to provide clarity, protect charitable fundraising, and ensure organizations can continue supporting veterans, families, youth programs, disaster relief, scholarships, and other community services without unnecessary legal uncertainty.

No. This effort is not about expanding gaming or creating new casino-style gaming.

The goal is to modernize outdated law, align Florida’s statute with current case law, and preserve long-standing charitable bingo activities that service organizations have responsibly used for decades to fund community service programs.

Instant bingo is a form of bingo where a player purchases a ticket and can immediately determine whether the ticket is a winner. These tickets are sometimes referred to as pull-tabs.

Instant bingo has long been used by charitable service organizations as a fundraising tool to support local programs and services.

An instant-bingo dispenser is a regulated device that dispenses instant bingo tickets. Some devices may scan or read a ticket and display whether it is a winner.

Modernization efforts are intended to provide clear standards for these devices while ensuring they remain charitable fundraising tools and do not operate like casino-style gaming machines.

Charitable bingo benefits the communities served by veteran and fraternal service organizations across Florida.

Funds raised through charitable bingo may support disaster relief, veteran assistance, scholarships, youth leadership programs, food drives, community outreach, accessibility projects, emergency aid, and other local services. These programs often reach far beyond an organization’s membership and support neighbors throughout the community.

No. Members do not personally profit from charitable bingo.

These are nonprofit, mission-driven fundraising activities. Proceeds are used to support the organization’s operations, local service programs, charitable giving, and community outreach. The purpose is to fund service, not personal gain.

Service organizations should not have to operate under unclear or outdated laws. Without clear guidance, organizations acting in good faith may face conflicting interpretations, unnecessary compliance concerns, or potential legal risk.

Legislative clarity helps protect lawful charitable fundraising and ensures organizations can continue serving their communities responsibly and transparently.

You can support the Florida Service Coalition by signing up for updates, sharing your story, contacting your lawmakers, and helping educate your community about the importance of charitable bingo to local service organizations.

As the 2027 legislative session approaches, the coalition will provide opportunities for supporters to send messages to legislators, attend local events, share testimonials, and help protect the organizations that serve Florida communities.