Online charity bingo for
your organisation
Run your bingo online: digital bingo cards for sale, secure payment, QR code scanning at the entrance. 100% free, no commission.
Why Donoor for this project
The tools you need, already connected and free. No pricing plan, no tiers, no equipment to rent.
Digital bingo cards
Your participants buy online and receive their place by email with a QR code. Book in advance, pay on the day or online.
0% commission
Donoor takes nothing. All funds raised go directly to your organisation via Stripe Connect or PayPal.
Participant management
CSV export to prepare your cards, check entries by QR code, manage advance bookings.
Compliant with French law
Charity bingo games are permitted without prior formalities if held within a restricted circle with modest prizes (art. L.322-3 et seq. Code de la sécurité intérieure).
What to prepare
The honest list of equipment and team you need to make your loto a success. No proprietary hardware to buy, you already have 90% of what you need.
Team
- 1 caller with microphoneCalls the numbers, keeps the atmosphere going, manages breaks. Often the most energetic person on the committee.
- 2 to 4 volunteer cashiersSell additional cards at the start of the evening and between games via Tap to Pay on iPhone.
- 1 card checkerVerifies line, double line and full house calls before prizes are handed out.
- 2 bar volunteersIf you offer drinks or snacks, these are the most profitable income of a bingo evening.
Tools and equipment
- A Donoor account (5 min)Creating the bingo event, online card sales, on-site payments.
- An official 1–90 ball drumAbout €80 to buy (lasts for years) or rent from another organisation. Otherwise, an online number generator projected on screen.
- Paper cards or tabletPrinted cards (~€15 per 100) OR a lotto app on a tablet for digital cards.
- PA system + microphoneEssential for 50+ players. Often lent by the town hall to local community organisations.
- Prizes (10–15 minimum)Ideal for sponsorship from local shopkeepers. Main prize such as a €200 voucher, small prizes for a line and a double line.
What the law says
We explain the legal obligations for your loto in plain language. Checked by our team and up to date for 2026.
Municipal authorisation required
A traditional organisation lotto is a gaming event authorised under strict conditions. A prior declaration at the town hall is mandatory (Cerfa form 11823 or online procedure via your town hall), 1 month before the date. Free of charge.
Reserved for non-profit organisations
Only organisations with charitable, sporting, cultural, scientific or educational purposes may run a traditional lotto open to the public. Profits must be used exclusively for the organisation's purpose (never distributed to individuals).
Stakes and prizes capped
The stake (card price) may not exceed €20 per participant. The value of the main prize may not exceed €1,500. Prizes may not be paid in cash or in redeemable vouchers — only in kind or in non-redeemable vouchers.
No aggressive commercial advertising
The lotto may be announced through local posters, the local press, the organisation's social media and word of mouth. Aggressive commercial advertising such as national radio, 4×3 billboards or cold calling is prohibited.
Keeping supporting documents
Display the rules, the town hall declaration and the stake limit on site. Keep the lotto accounts and the list of prizes awarded for 6 years. Donoor automatically archives every transaction.
Your checklist for D-Day
Everything you must not forget, by phase. Print it and tick items off as you go.
1 month before
- File the declaration at the town hall
- Book the venue (often the communal function hall)
- Approach local shopkeepers for prize sponsorship
- Reserve or buy the number caller and cards
- Assemble a team of 5–8 volunteers
2 weeks before
- Create the lotto event on Donoor (5 min)
- Launch the online pre-sale of cards via QR code
- Print posters, flyers and the rules
- Confirm the prize list with the shopkeepers
- Brief the caller and cashiers
On the day
- Set up the venue 2 hours before (tables, PA system, prizes on display)
- Check that the number caller works properly
- Set up cashiers at the entrance with Tap to Pay on iPhone
- Hand out the cards and start the first game
- Announce the winners between games
- Have each winner of a major prize sign a receipt
They did it
Three organisation profiles that ran their loto with Donoor, so you can picture realistic cases.
Village festival committee (450 inhabitants)
Annual February lotto that has become a tradition. 120 players on average, 4 games + 1 special game, 18 prizes donated by village shopkeepers. Refreshments and crêpes provided by volunteers with Tap to Pay on iPhone.
Primary school APE
Family lotto on a Sunday afternoon in November. Cards at €4 for children / €8 for adults. Family-oriented prizes (board games, swimming pool vouchers, pizza vouchers). Promoted only via the school noticeboard and the parents' Facebook group.
Municipal pétanque club
Winter lotto held in the club's hall. 60 regular players from the village. Online pre-sale for loyal members, Tap to Pay on site for newcomers. Prizes mainly food products (local produce).
A village festival committee bingo
80 players × €8 per card = €640 of cards sold online before the evening + additional payments on site with Tap to Pay on iPhone (no terminal to rent). Live draw, prizes handed out on site. Net profit goes straight to the organisation's account.
Hesitating over another platform?
Compare Donoor with other providers on fees and features.
Other compatible projects
Many organisations run or combine several types of project. Explore the related guides.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need authorisation to run a charity bingo?
No, if the bingo is organised: (1) within a restricted circle (your municipality and surroundings), (2) for a social, cultural, educational, sporting or scientific purpose, (3) with modest stakes (under €20 per card recommended), (4) with prizes that cannot be refunded in cash. Beyond that, authorisation may be required (rare in practice).
How much does a bingo cost on Donoor?
€0. Donoor is 100% free: no commission on card sales, no subscription. Only bank fees (1.5% + €0.25) apply, covered by the buyer four times out of five.
How do I sell cards in advance and on site?
In advance: share the Donoor link by email, SMS or social media; participants pay online and receive their QR code. On site: use Tap to Pay on iPhone to take card payments without a terminal, or create numbered paper tickets that you sync with your Donoor ticketing.
What prizes can be offered?
Any, except cash or redeemable securities. Vouchers, hampers, high-tech products and holidays are allowed. Prizes must be stated in your communication to participants.
How do you prevent ticket resale?
Each Donoor ticket has a unique QR code scanned at the entrance; it becomes invalid after the first scan. If someone tries to reuse the code (screenshot), your team sees it immediately on the scanning tablet.
Can several people scan at the same time?
Yes, several members of your team can scan simultaneously from their phones (iPhone or Android) via the Donoor app. Statuses sync in real time.
What are the rules of a charity bingo (indoor bingo)?
The principle: each player buys one or more numbered cards. The caller draws numbers at random, one by one; players mark the called numbers on their cards. The first to complete a line wins, then the first to complete two lines (double line), then the full card (full house). Each stage corresponds to a prize. Stakes must remain modest and prizes cannot be refunded in cash. With Donoor, you sell cards online and on site; the draw and the entertainment remain traditional.
How do you organise a bingo to raise funds?
Set a date and venue, gather prizes (donations from local shops, hampers, vouchers), set the card price, then promote: posters, social media, Donoor booking link. On the day, sell the last cards by Tap to Pay, scan entries by QR code, host the draw. 100% of the proceeds go to the organisation; Donoor takes no commission.
We take care ofsetting it all up for you.
Create your organization space in a few minutes, or let us set everything up for you. Free, fast, hassle-free.
100% free · No subscription, no commitment
How it works
Set up in under 8 minutes, no technical knowledge needed.
Create your bingo event
Register your organisation on Donoor (5 min). Create a “bingo” event: date, venue, price per card.
Sell cards online and at the door
A link to share before the bingo + Tap to Pay on iPhone on the day for those paying on site without having booked.
Prepare your evening
Export the participant list, prepare the paper cards (matching the tickets sold), organise the prizes.
Host and call the numbers
On the day, scan the QR codes at the entrance to validate tickets. Start the game.