CHARITABLE GAMING

The Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs (OCRP) at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services promotes the integrity of charitable gaming activities in the Commonwealth. OCRP issues permits to organizations wishing to conduct charitable gaming; registers bingo callers, bingo managers, and charitable gaming suppliers; provides training and technical assistance to organizations and individuals involved in charitable gaming; conducts audits of charitable gaming organizations and suppliers to ensure compliance with financial reporting requirements, applicable laws and regulations, and use-of-proceeds requirements; conducts on-site inspections; investigates violations of gaming laws and regulations; and pursues regulatory action or prosecution of violators.

Last Updated: November 8, 2012

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ELECTRONIC PULL-TABS

11 VAC 15-40, Charitable Gaming Regulations, which establishes standards for electronic pull-tab systems, became effective on November 7, 2012. 

As a reminder, before any electronic pull-tab system may be distributed or used in Virginia, the manufacturer of the system must receive (i) a permit issued by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), (ii) an approval letter from VDACS acknowledging the certification of the manufacturer’s system by a VDACS-recognized testing laboratory, and (iii) a letter from VDACS approving each electronic pull-tab game’s themes, sounds, and music.

MANUFACTURER OF ELECTRONIC PULL-TAB SYSTEM PERMIT APPLICATION

Manufacturers seeking authorization to provide electronic pull-tab systems in Virginia may apply for a permit to do so by completing the following forms:

• Manufacturer of Electronic Pull-Tab System Permit Application (pdf)
• Manufacturer of Electronic Pull-Tab System Permit Application – Personal Information Form (pdf)

Upon completion, please mail the signed application, all relevant documents and/or explanation sheets, an application fee of $1,000 (one thousand dollars) made payable to “Treasurer of Virginia,” and a Personal Information Form for each required individual to:

VDACS
Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs
P.O. Box 526
Richmond, VA  23218

CHARITABLE GAMING REGULATIONS, 11 VAC 15-40

The Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs invites you to review the Charitable Gaming Regulations, which became effective on November 7, 2012.

RECOGNIZED TESTING LABORATORIES

Section 18.2‐340.19 of the Code of Virginia requires the Charitable Gaming Board to promulgate regulations governing all aspects of charitable gaming, including the electronic and mechanical equipment used in the conduct of gaming.

The Supplier Regulations, 11 Va. Admin. Code 15-31, provide, in part, that the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) shall set manufacturing and testing criteria for all electronic bingo devices and other equipment used in the conduct of charitable gaming.

11 Va. Admin. Code 15-31-20(K) specifically provides that no electronic bingo device may be sold, leased or used in the conduct of charitable gaming until an identical device containing identical software has been evaluated and approved by a testing laboratory that has been formally recognized by VDACS to uphold established standards of integrity.

Effective September 13, 2011, VDACS recognizes the following three laboratories as authorized to conduct the requisite equipment evaluation and approval described above.

REMINDER REGARDING FINANCIAL REPORTS

Please see the Financial Reporting section for more information regarding organizations’ financial reporting requirements.