Charitable gaming literally means games held by non-profit charities for their fundraising benefit.

• Non-Profit Charities organize and hold the gaming activities.
• Volunteers are enlisted by these charities to actually work the events.
• Players support their charities by participating in the games.
• Suppliers sell miscellaneous items like bingo cards.
• Proprietors provide the facilities used for charitable gaming activities.
• The Department of Charitable Gaming regulates charitable gaming in Virginia.

Government regulation ensures that all charities organizing charitable gaming events are legitimate, and that the net proceeds from charitable gaming fundraising events will actually benefit the charities themselves.

Many important charities rely on charitable gaming fundraising events as a critical source of funding for their community operations. Without the proper rules and regulations, these charites would not be able to conduct business effectively, and many would no longer exist. Therefore the primary issue facing charitable gaming today is educating taxpayer-funded government regulators about charitable gaming operations in general, and lobbying for the rules and regulations that are most beneficial for the charities themselves, and for charitable gaming as a whole.

The Virginia Bingo Group represents non-profit charities, suppliers, and proprietors interested in an ethical, healthy charitable gaming experience for all parties. If you are involved in charitable gaming in any of these capacities, or if you would like to become involved, we hope you will contact us.

The Department of Charitable Gaming can answer all questions about rules and regulations governing charitable gaming in the Commonwealth of Virginia. If you have a question that is not already answered on the Department's web site, check their agency staff list to find and contact someone with the right specialization.