Social & Charitable Gambling Information:
Telephone: (515) 281-6848
Fax: (515) 281-3291

The Social and Charitable Gambling Program administers Iowa Code Chapter 99B, which regulates games of skill or chance, raffles, bingo, social gambling and amusement devices. Qualified organizations may obtain a social or charitable gambling license to conduct fund-raising activities benefiting educational, civic, public, charitable, patriotic, or religious purposes.

Online Licensing System
Iowans may apply and pay for a license to conduct social or charitable gambling using the Department's online licensing system.  The system uses a "wizard" to walk the user through the application process.  Once the application is completed, the user may purchase the license using a major credit card (Discover, MasterCard, or Visa).

Social Gambling License

A Social Gambling Licenses authorizes small stakes card and parlor games (such as cribbage, euchre, hearts, checkers, chess, dominoes, etc.) between individuals.  A Social Gambling License held by a beer or liquor establishment also permits sports-betting pools.  The Social Gambling License Application describes the various types of licenses available, as well as the licensing fees and requirements.

Sports Betting Pool Guidelines
Iowa Code section 99B.6(7) permits the holder of a liquor control license or beer permit to conduct a sports betting pool under certain circumstances. License holders may download or view Guidelines to Iowa Sports Betting Pools.  Also available is information about NCAA Tournament Brackets and sports betting pools.

Charitable Gambling License Application

In order to conduct certain types of charitable gambling activities, a qualified organization will first need to obtain a Charitable Gambling License.  The Charitable Gambling License Application describes the various types of licenses available (bingo, raffles, amusement concessions, etc.), as well as the licensing fees and requirements.

Annual Reports Available Now
The Department's Annual Report system is available online.  To assist Iowans with the online reporting system, a guide has been developed to explain its use, how to access the system, and how to file a qualified organization's annual report.  The Guide to Using the Online Reporting System is available here. The Department recently issued an important reminder for all Charitable Gambling licensees regarding annual reports.

Veterans Organization Card Tournament License Application
Certain qualified organizations representing veterans may now apply for a Veterans Organization Card Tournament license. The license permits organizations to conduct a series of card games held during a consecutive period of 24 hours or less.

Administrative Rules
The Department has several chapters in the Iowa Administrative Code dealing with social and charitable gambling activities. You may download and/or view the Iowa Administrative Code chapter dealing with a particular topic by clicking on the subject.

481 IAC 100 -- Administration
481 IAC 101 -- Amusement Concessions
481 IAC 102 -- Social Gambling
481 IAC 103 -- Bingo
481 IAC 104 -- Amusement Devices
481 IAC 105 -- Registered Amusement Devices
481 IAC 106 -- Card Game Tournaments by Veterans Organizations
481 IAC 107 -- Game Nights