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Bill

HB 1364

Increasing the gross revenue threshold for unlicensed bingo, raffles, and amusement games conducted by charitable or nonprofit organizations.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Carolyn Eslick and 5 co-sponsors

HB 1364 raises the gross revenue threshold allowing Washington nonprofits and charities to conduct bingo, raffles, and amusement games without state licensing.

First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Relations.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1364

Legislative bill overview

HB 1364 raises the financial threshold at which charitable and nonprofit organizations must obtain state licenses to conduct bingo games, raffles, and amusement games in Washington. Currently, organizations operating these games below a certain gross revenue cap can do so without licensing; this bill increases that cap, allowing more fundraising activity before licensing requirements kick in.

Why is this important

This directly affects how nonprofits and charities fundraise. Higher thresholds reduce regulatory compliance costs and administrative burden for smaller organizations, potentially letting them keep more revenue for their charitable missions. However, it also affects state oversight and consumer protections, as unlicensed operations fall outside regulatory scrutiny.

Potential points of contention

  • Consumer protection vs. regulatory burden: Higher unlicensed thresholds mean less state oversight of games of chance, potentially increasing fraud risk while reducing compliance costs for legitimate nonprofits
  • Revenue impact: Raising the threshold may reduce state licensing fee revenue and decrease the number of organizations subject to state auditing and reporting requirements
  • Competitive fairness: Organizations just above the new threshold might face disadvantages compared to similar groups operating just below it, creating incentives to structure operations strategically

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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