Bingo is a game of chance. Players pay to play in the hope of winning a prize. Anyone who conducts games of bingo with prizes and charges players to play bingo must obtain a bingo license.  The starting point for this license begins with the Arizona Department of Revenue(ADOR) Bingo Section and then that application is sent to the City of Tempe for approval from various departments including Police and City Council before final license is issued by ADOR and then Tempe Tax & License.

Bingo is legal in the State of Arizona for recreational purposes or to allow certain types of nonprofit organizations to generate funds to support their activities. Special laws govern the way bingo is to be conducted. These laws, linked below, are enforced by the Arizona Department of Revenue Bingo Section.

Failure to comply with bingo laws and rules could lead to the loss of the license to conduct games. Because criminal charges could result from non-compliance, prospective licensees are encouraged to obtain copies of the bingo laws and rules and become familiar with the requirements.

Administrative Rules

Arizona Revised Statute (review Chapter 4)

Code

Tempe City Code §5-21 to §5-29

Step One: :  Have the following documents ready or in process before applying 

First, complete application and affidavit with Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) Bingo Section for the appropriate bingo license (Forms 833, 830 & 832).  (bingo@azdor.gov) Click ADOR logo to access their forms:

Step Two: A Tempe Bingo Operator License is required annually for the business and must include information for all owners: 

Apply for Tempe Bingo Operator License at link below and upload completed ADOR Bingo Forms 833, 830 & 832) to Tempe Tax & License at link below.

If you need a Tempe Bingo Operator License, you will need to renew before January 1 each year.  NOTE: There are three license types: Class A, Class B and Class C (established by the state statute).  See Fee Structure below.

BUSINESS APPLICATION

OWNER/OFFICER APPLICATION

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Fees: Class A

(gross receipts of $75,000 per year or less)

$5 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$25 Annual license fee 

Total: $30 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Fees: Class B

(gross receipts between $75,001 and $500,000 per year)

$25 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$25 Annual license fee 

Total: $50 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Fees: Class C

(gross receipts greater than $500,000 per year)

$50 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$25 Annual license fee 

Total: $75 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Late Penalty Fee (for all Class Types)

$5 (if renewal paid January 1 or after)

Application Processing Time

60 days (from time all documents received)

New license application is forwarded to:

Tempe Fire Department

Building Safety

Planning

Tempe City Council

Step One: A Tempe Bingo Operator License is required annually before January 1 for the business.

If you need a Tempe Bingo Operator License, you will need to renew before January 1 each year.  Please note that all ADOR issued bingo licenses expire one year from the date of issue. Renew with ADOR at: bingo@azdor.gov. To continue conducting bingo games, you must renew your license prior to the expiration dates for both ADOR Bingo and Tempe Tax & License. Click the button below to reach Tempe Tax & License to renew:

CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING VIDEOS ON USING THE ACA LICENSING PORTAL 

Step Two: Renewal with Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) Bingo Section is required annually and expires one year from the date of issue.

If you need a Tempe Bingo Operator License, you will need to renew before January 1 each year.  Please note that all ADOR issued bingo licenses expire one year from the date of issue. Renew with ADOR at: bingo@azdor.gov. To continue conducting bingo games, you must renew your license prior to the expiration dates for both ADOR Bingo and Tempe Tax & License. Click the button below to renew with ADOR Bingo:

RENEW WITH ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE BINGO

Step Three: At Renewal, the starting point for "new" owners begins with Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR Bingo Section; then fingerprints and background checks are required by Tempe Police Dept.  Returning owners do not need to resubmit fingerprints and background each year to Tempe.

Suggested Fingerprinting Locations:

AZ Livescan  602-246-3444

SecureOne   480-500-7309

Community Wellness and Safety of Arizona  480-892-4295

$22 fingerprint fee with each fingerprint card per person (by cashier’s check or money order to: Arizona Dept of Public Safety)

Mailed to:

Tempe Police Department

Attn: Anna Churan

120 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281

Questions on fingerprinting? 480-858-7899

Renewal Fees

$25 Annual license fee per business for Class A, B & C                                        (due by January 1 each year)

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Late Penalty Fee

$5 added to annual license fee per business January 1 or after

Renewal Processing Time

Less than 30 days (from time all documents received or if there are no changes)

New owners applications are forwarded to:

Tempe Police Department

New License Fees: Class A                                                     

(gross receipts of $75,000 per year or less)

$5 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$25 Annual license fee 

Total: $30 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

New License Fees: Class B                                                         

(gross receipts between $75,001 and $500,000 per year)

$25 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$25 Annual license fee 

Total: $50 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

New License Fees: Class C                                                         

(gross receipts greater than $500,000 per year)

$50 New license application fee per business  (non-refundable)

$25 Annual license fee 

Total: $75 total for new license

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express by phone or in-person

We accept check by mail or in-person.  We do not accept cash.

Renewal License Fees

$25 Annual license fee per business (due by January 1 each year)

We do not accept cash.

Late Penalty Fee

$5 added to annual license fee per business January 1 or after

Application Processing Time for New Applications

60 days (from time all documents received)

New Applications, for new license or renewal, require fingerprints and background checks for all owners 

Suggested Fingerprinting Locations:

AZ Livescan  602-246-3444

SecureOne   480-500-7309

Community Wellness and Safety of Arizona  480-892-4295

$22 fingerprint fee with each fingerprint card per person (by cashier’s check or money order to: Arizona Dept of Public Safety)

Mailed to:

Tempe Police Department

Attn: Anna Churan

120 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281

Questions on fingerprinting? 480-858-7899

Requirement to Renew Annually

Tempe Bingo Operator Licenses expire annually by December 31. It is unlawful to operate a bingo establishment business in Tempe with an expired license.  Renewal applications must be filed before a license expires (NOTE: Arizona Department of Revenue Bingo Section renewal dates are different than the City of Tempe.)

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Requirement to Pay Taxes

You must submit your required filings on-time on the 20th of the month following the expiration of your ADOR bingo license for the previous year's revenues.  You must also renew your ADOR Bingo license every year before the expiration date (which is one year from the date of issue) . Click the links below for the filing forms for each License Class:

Class A (Form 836)

Class B or C (Form 837)

Requirement to Keep Contact Information Up to Date

If an owner's information changes, the licensee must contact Tempe Tax & License to make the updates as well as Arizona Department of Revenue Bingo Section (bingo@azdor.gov).  There is no charge by Tempe Tax & License. 

"Our mission is to provide quality service to all Tempe taxpayers, and administer the tax code in a fair and equitable manner."