Minnesota
Gambling Control Board
Main office:
Suite 300 South
1711 West County Road B
Roseville, MN 55113
651-539-1900
651-639-4032 (fax)
Welcome to the Minnesota Gambling Control Board
The Minnesota Gambling Control Board regulates the lawful (charitable) gambling industry to ensure the
integrity of operations and provide for the lawful use of net profits. Charitable gambling is conducted only by registered nonprofit organizations. The five forms of lawful gambling are bingo, paddlewheels, pull-tabs, raffles, and tipboards.
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Nonprofit Requirements
Bingo, paddlewheels, pull-tabs, raffles, and tipboards may be conducted only by registered nonprofit organizations.
There are four types of nonprofit organizations that are eligible to conduct lawful gambling: fraternal, religious, veteran, and other nonprofit.
You must provide proof of nonprofit status by ONE of the following:
- Certificate of Good Standing for current calendar year. Don't have a copy? Contact the Secretary of State at 651-296-2803.
- IRS income tax exemption 501(c) letter in your organization's name. Don't have a copy? Contact the IRS at 877-829-5500.
- IRS - Affiliate of national, statewide, or international parent nonprofit organization (charter). If your organization falls under a parent organization provide BOTH:
- an IRS letter showing parent organization is a nonprofit 501(c) with group ruling; and
- a charter or letter from parent organization recognizing your organization as a subordinate.
Applying for a license or permit?
To conduct lawful gambling in Minnesota, your organization must apply for and receive either an organization license, exempt permit, or excluded permit.
Organization license:
An organization license is obtained for the conduct of ongoing gambling activities. Application and information for an organization license ›
Exempt or Excluded permit:
An exempt or excluded permit is obtained for the conduct of a limited number of gambling activities within a calendar year. Permit applications and information for exempt or excluded permits ›
Manufacturer license:
A manufacturers license must be obtained by any person or entity who sells lawful gambling equipment to a licensed distributor in Minnesota. Manufacturer information and forms ›
Distributor license:
A distributor license must be obtained by any person or entity distributing lawful gambling equipment in Minnesota. Distributor information and forms ›
Linked Bingo Game Provider license:
A linked bingo game provider license must be obtained by any person or entity who provides linked bingo services to organizations licensed to conduct lawful gambling in Minnesota. Linked Bingo Game Provider information and forms ›
What's New Specific What's New information, by month
September 17, 2018
Continuing Education Correction
The Continuing Education classes listed in the July/August/September Gaming News should have included an upcoming class in Winona:
Wednesday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.
The Plaza Hotel & Suites, Rosewood II Room
1025 Highway 61 East
Winona, MN 55987
Topic: Conduct and Reporting of Sports Tipboards
We apologize for any inconvenience.
The July/August/September Gaming News is now available. September 11, 2018
Quarterly Newsletter Available
The July/August/September Gaming News is now available.
September 7, 2018
Sports Tipboards - Who May and May Not Play
Sports tipboards are tipboards for purposes of who may and may not play. Please see the one-page information sheet, Who May/May Not Play.
September 6, 2018
Rules Update
Thank you to the Public Advisory Committee (PAC) for its work on the rules language. Numerous suggestions are incorporated, and the collaboration has been beneficial in developing the rules language.
To view the rules as approved by the Board and prepared by the Revisor of Statutes, go to the Lawful Gambling Rules page.
Reminder to Use the New GCBREPORTS
With the start of the NFL season, sports tipboard games will be in full swing. This is a reminder to use the updated GCBREPORTS, which have been revised to include the tax-exempt sports tipboard games. The version to use is “GCBREPORTS 08 14 2018”.
Always download the latest version of the GCBREPORTS file from the GCBREPORTS page. This will ensure that you are using the latest version of the forms each month. The Minnesota Department of Revenue has also updated its forms. To obtain Revenue's updated forms, go to Revenue forms.
Call your Compliance Specialist with any questions.
August 29, 2018 PDF version
Message to Our Licensees
There have been communications publicly disseminated by representatives of Allied Charities that give a less than favorable picture of the Minnesota Gambling Control Board. Unfortunately, it is difficult to respond when uncorroborated claims like this are distributed.
Part of the Gambling Control Board’s mission is to regulate lawful gambling, to insure integrity of operations, and to provide for the use of net profits. The staff at the Gambling Control Board performs many tasks to accomplish this mission, some of which are regulation, education, and helping guide lawful gambling organizations with their operations. Staff conducts compliance audits of lawful gambling organizations’ operations, performs inspections of lawful gambling sites, and investigates allegations of misconduct, theft, and fraud.
To see our full message to licensed charitable organizations, whether you belong to a trade association or not, select this PDF version, or go to Specific What's New information, and select August.
Crime Alerts See complete Crime Alert list
- August 7, 2018 - Stolen Pull-Tab Game, Montevideo Area - GAMES FOUND
- August 2, 2017 - Missing Pull-Tab Game, Glenwood - GAME FOUND
- June 22, 2017 - Counterfeit Currency, Metro Area
- April 7, 2017 - Burglaries in Alexandria Area
- March 30, 2017 - Board Employee Impersonation, White Bear Lake area
- March 27, 2017 - Pull-Tab Games/Dispensing Device Stolen, Bruno
- January 25, 2017 - Counterfeit $20, Richardson Township/Hillman
- January 23, 2017 - Counterfeit Bills, Duluth, Grand Forks
- December 14, 2016 - Counterfeit $50 Bills, Apple Valley
- November 28, 2016 - Counterfeit $100 Bills, Duluth
- September 14, 2016 - Counterfeit Bills, Fisher
- August 17, 2016 - Stolen Pull-Tab Games, Spring Lake Park
- July 1, 2016 - Missing Pull-Tab Games, Lake Crystal
Nonprofit Requirements
Applying for a license or permit?
What's New
Crime Alerts
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