What States Allow Legal Pull-Tab Games? A State-by-State Guide
Meta description: Find out where pull-tab games are legal in the United States, how charitable gaming rules differ by state, and what to check before playing.
Pull-tab games—also called paper pull-tabs, break-open tickets, or charitable gaming tickets—are legal in many parts of the United States, but there is no single national rule. States decide whether they may be sold, which organizations can offer them, and whether play is limited to licensed venues or charitable events. In some places, electronic pull-tabs have separate rules. A game’s presence in a bar or fundraiser does not, by itself, establish that it is legal everywhere in that state.
Where Are Pull-Tab Games Legal?
Pull-tabs are permitted in numerous states under some form of state-regulated charitable gaming, lottery, or gaming law. States with established legal pull-tab or break-open ticket programs include Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. This is a practical list of states where regulated pull-tab activity is well known, not a guarantee that every type of pull-tab game is allowed in every location.
Other states may allow similar tickets under specific charitable-gaming or bingo rules, while restricting who can sell them and where. State laws change, and local rules may add requirements. For a current answer about a particular state, check its gaming regulator or the state statute before buying, selling, or organizing a game.
It is also important to distinguish paper pull-tabs from electronic pull-tabs. A state may allow one form but prohibit, limit, or separately license the other. Online games advertised as “pull-tabs” may be subject to different gambling and consumer-protection laws altogether.
Why There Is No Simple Nationwide List
In the United States, gambling is regulated through a combination of federal, state, tribal, and sometimes local law. Federal law can apply to certain activities, but states generally determine whether charitable gaming is allowed and set its operating conditions. As a result, the same ticket game can be legal at a licensed nonprofit event in one state, restricted to particular venues in another, and prohibited outside narrow exceptions elsewhere.
States also use different legal categories. A pull-tab game might be regulated as charitable gaming, bingo-related gaming, a lottery product, or a type of gaming conducted at an authorized establishment. The name used in state law may differ from the term players use. Regulators may refer to “break-open tickets,” “instant bingo,” or “pull-tabs.”
Even within a state that permits the games, legal access may depend on the operator’s license, the organization’s nonprofit status, the location, the ticket’s approval, and how proceeds are handled. Local governments may have additional restrictions. That is why a general state-level “yes” should not be treated as permission for any person or business to sell tickets.
States With Established Pull-Tab Programs
The following examples illustrate how pull-tabs operate under state-specific rules. They are not a substitute for a current legal check, and they do not mean that every venue or game format is allowed in each state.
| State | General context | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | Charitable gambling includes paper pull-tabs and electronic pull-tabs under state oversight. | Whether the organization, premises, game, and equipment are properly authorized. |
| Montana | Pull-tabs are among the gambling activities regulated by the state. | Licensing, permitted locations, ticket rules, and any local restrictions. |
| North Dakota | Charitable gaming rules provide for pull-tab activity under state regulation. | Operator eligibility, site authorization, and required records or reporting. |
| South Dakota | Pull-tabs may be offered within the state’s regulated gaming framework. | Applicable license type, eligible organization, and location-specific rules. |
| Wisconsin | Charitable gaming laws include regulated pull-tab activity. | Whether a particular organization and sales arrangement meet state requirements. |
| Colorado | Pull-tabs and related charitable games are subject to state charitable-gaming oversight. | Organization qualification, licensing, game approval, and sales conditions. |
| Oregon | Charitable gaming rules may cover pull-tabs and similar games. | Current state rules for the game format, sponsor, and venue. |
| Washington | Pull-tabs are regulated as a gambling activity and may be offered by authorized operators. | Licenses, approved games, business or nonprofit eligibility, and local rules. |
| Alaska | Pull-tabs are a recognized form of gaming, subject to state requirements. | Authorization, operator status, and the rules governing the specific game. |
| Idaho | Charitable gaming rules can apply to pull-tabs and related games. | Current eligibility, licensing, and permitted-event requirements. |
Other states with documented pull-tab or break-open ticket activity include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio. Their rules can differ significantly from the examples above. A state may allow nonprofit sales but not general commercial sales, or permit tickets only as part of a licensed bingo or charitable event.
How Pull-Tab Laws Usually Work
Eligible organizations
Many states reserve charitable pull-tab games for qualifying organizations, such as nonprofits, veterans’ groups, fraternal organizations, or other approved community groups. The precise categories vary. An organization may need to meet state requirements for how long it has operated, its charitable purpose, or how it uses gaming proceeds. A business owner should not assume that forming a nonprofit automatically authorizes pull-tab sales.
Licensing and approved locations
States may require separate licenses for the organization, the premises, a distributor, or a person who manages the game. Some allow sales at a licensed bar, club, or other venue; others limit games to specific events or locations. The license can also determine which games are permitted and when tickets may be sold. A valid game at one licensed site is not necessarily legal at an unlicensed site nearby.
Paper and electronic games
Paper pull-tabs use a sealed ticket with concealed symbols or numbers. Electronic pull-tabs use a digital interface but may still be classified as charitable gaming by state law. Electronic devices can face additional rules about hardware, software, reporting, and connections to a central system. A state’s approval of paper tickets should not be read as approval of electronic versions.
Prize limits and recordkeeping
Regulations may set limits on ticket prices, prizes, payouts, or the number of games an organization can conduct. Operators may have to keep sales and prize records, report proceeds, and use net revenue for approved charitable or organizational purposes. Tax treatment can depend on the operator, the game, and the player’s winnings; people with questions about reporting should consult the IRS or a qualified tax professional.
States Where Pull-Tabs May Be Restricted or Unavailable
Some states have especially restrictive gambling laws or allow charitable games only in narrow circumstances. Utah and Hawaii, for example, are widely known for broad restrictions on gambling; residents should not assume that a charitable label makes a pull-tab game lawful there. Other states may allow bingo or raffles but not authorize pull-tabs as a separate activity, or may permit them only under limited exceptions.
That distinction matters: “charitable gaming is legal” does not necessarily mean “pull-tabs are legal.” A state’s law may approve certain games while excluding others. The answer can also differ between paper tickets sold at a fundraiser, tickets offered in a licensed venue, and an online version accessible from a phone.
How to Check Whether a Pull-Tab Game Is Legal
- Identify the game format. Determine whether it is a paper pull-tab, electronic pull-tab, instant bingo ticket, or online game. The legal category affects the rules.
- Find the state regulator. Search the state government website for its gaming, lottery, charitable gaming, or gambling-control agency. Official domains ending in .gov are a strong starting point.
- Check the operator’s authorization. Ask which license or legal exception permits the organization or venue to offer the game. A posted license can help, but its validity and scope should be confirmed with the regulator.
- Review location and local rules. Confirm that the specific venue and event are allowed. City or county requirements may apply in addition to state law.
- Verify current rules. Look for recent agency guidance and statutes, since regulations and license conditions can change. If the answer remains unclear, contact the regulator directly.
For example, Minnesota residents can consult the Minnesota Gambling Control Board; Colorado residents can review the Colorado Secretary of State’s charitable gaming information; and Washington residents can check the Washington State Gambling Commission. Comparable state agencies oversee charitable gaming in other jurisdictions. These official sources are more reliable than a venue’s advertising or an outdated online state list.
Legal Pull-Tabs Versus Online Pull-Tab Apps
Search results may describe a mobile game as a pull-tab game even when it is not the same as a state-authorized charitable ticket. Some apps offer free play, while others involve deposits, prizes, or cash-out features. Their legal status depends on the product’s structure and the laws where the player is located. A company’s claim that a game is “legal” does not establish that it is authorized in every state.
Before using an online platform, check whether the relevant state regulator lists or licenses the operator, and review the platform’s rules for deposits, prizes, withdrawals, and age limits. A state’s allowance of charitable pull-tabs at a licensed venue does not automatically authorize a commercial app to offer real-money games to residents.
What Players and Organizers Should Know
- Check the license, not just the venue type. A bar, veterans’ club, or fundraiser may still need specific authorization.
- Read the posted game information. Ticket price, prize details, and game rules should be clear. State rules may require particular disclosures.
- Keep the ticket and follow the claim process. Claim deadlines, validation steps, and prize procedures vary by operator and state.
- Set a spending limit. Pull-tabs involve chance, and a purchase does not guarantee a prize or a return.
- For organizers, confirm requirements before selling. Licensing, accounting, prize limits, and use-of-proceeds rules can carry legal consequences if ignored.
In short, pull-tab games are legal in many states, including several with longstanding charitable-gaming programs, but legality depends on the game type, operator, venue, and current state rules. The safest way to answer “What states have legal pull-tab games?” is to use a state list as a starting point, then confirm the specific game and location with the relevant state regulator.