Game Nights

On June 1, 2019, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation legalizing game night events for charities, employers and trade associations of 25 or more employees or members. Click here for the game night law.

Definitions

Game night: is a specific event at which (1) games of chance are played (2) prizes are awarded by raffle, and (3) is sponsored by or on behalf of an exempt organization or an employer or trade association.
Sponsors: An exempt organization, an employer of 25 or more employees, or a trade association of 25 or more members.  
Exempt organization: An organization that has been in continuous existence for at least five years and is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code and is exempt under similar provisions of the General Statutes of North Carolina.
Vendor: Licensed business with licensed gaming devices that provide game night services
Qualified facility:  A facility that has any of the following alcohol permits: on-premises malt beverage, on-premises unfortified wine, on-premises fortified wine, or mixed beverages.  Check with the NC ABC to see if a business qualifies  
Games:  Authorized games are, roulette, blackjack, poker, craps, simulated horse race, merchandise wheel of fortune.
Prizes:  No games can be played for cash or cash prizes. Prizes shall be awarded only through a raffle. Participants may exchange chips, markers, or tokens for the game night event for raffle tickets.

To become a licensed sponsor you must:

  1. Be a legal sponsor
  2. Completely fill out the Game Night Sponsor Permit Application
  3. Submit your application with supporting documents 30 days in advance of your event, and
  4. Mail certified check or money order of $100 with your application.

To become a licensed vendor you must:

  1. Submit your Game night vendor permit application with complete list of employees
  2. Complete your Game night vendor device registration
  3. Submit your application 30 days in advance of planned events, and
  4. Mail certified check or money order of $2,500 with your application.

Limits on game night events

  • Sponsors are limited to four game night events per year and one event per quarter.
  • The event shall not exceed a period of five hours.
  • No more than two game night events shall be operated or conducted in any one building, hall, or structure during any one calendar week, and if two events are held, they must be held by different exempt organizations on different nights of the week.
  • There shall be no operation of a game night event between the hours of 2 a.m. and 12 noon Monday through Saturday or between the hours of 2 a.m.. and 2 p.m. Sunday. 
  • A qualified facility may not host more than two game nights in any calendar month.

 
Fees

Game night sponsor: $100 per event
Game night vendor: $2,500 annually and $25 per device


Game Night Forms

Contact Us:
Cathleen Poole at email or write: ALE Gaming Section, 4233 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699