Bingo Halls in Maine

Maine regulates bingo under Title 17, Chapter 62 of the Maine Revised Statutes, with oversight from the Maine Gambling Control Unit. Charitable organizations, including religious, fraternal, veterans', civic, and educational groups, may obtain a license to conduct bingo games. Maine law sets limits on prize amounts and requires that net proceeds support the organization's charitable mission. The state also permits gaming at the Hollywood Casino in Bangor and at Oxford Casino, though these focus on slots and table games. Bingo holds a cherished place in Maine's community culture, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas where it serves as a primary social activity and entertainment option. Portland, the state's largest city, has bingo games at churches, American Legion posts, and fraternal organizations. Bangor, Lewiston, and Augusta also host regular bingo nights. The Penobscot Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe are Maine's principal Native American tribes, and tribal gaming has played a role in the state's gaming landscape, though on a smaller scale than in many other states. The Penobscot Nation has operated gaming facilities on and near Indian Island. Maine's bingo scene has a distinctly New England character — games tend to be intimate, community-focused affairs held in VFW halls, church basements, and Grange halls. During the summer months, bingo activity increases in coastal and tourist areas, with seasonal games appearing in towns like Bar Harbor and Old Orchard Beach that draw both visitors and seasonal residents. The long winters make indoor activities like bingo especially important for social connection in Maine's rural communities. The Downeast region and Aroostook County in northern Maine have bingo traditions that serve some of the most rural communities in the eastern United States. Franco-American communities in the Lewiston-Auburn area and Catholic parishes throughout the state have maintained bingo traditions that stretch back decades, making bingo one of the enduring threads of Maine's community fabric.