BingoShow
Bingo fundraisers · nonprofits · churches · schools

Bingo fundraiser software for nonprofits

Run your charity bingo fundraiser without the stress: printable cards with unique IDs, a big-screen caller on TV or projector, automatic draw and instant winner verification. Built for nonprofits, churches, schools and clubs.

Pro plan at €9 / month· €14 for the 30-day pass, no commitment· No VAT applicable
What you get
Up to 500 numbered cards per session, print-ready PDF
Room display on projector, TV or Chromecast — zero install
Highlight your local sponsors: logos on screen and on cards
Verify a winning card in 1 second, from your phone
Steps

How it works

3 steps, from draft to live draw.

1

Prepare your cards

Pick the format (75 or 90 numbers), the number of cards (1 to 500), add your sponsors. Download the print-ready PDF.

2

Show the room screen

On the day, open the room screen in a browser on your projector or TV. Numbers are readable from 15 meters away.

3

Host and verify

Draw numbers from your phone, verify a winning card by entering its number. Recap PDF sent after the round.

Features

Everything you need, nothing more

1 to 500 unique cards

Auto generation, unique anti-fraud numbering, 75 or 90 number format.

Unlimited sponsors

Partner logos and photos shown in rotation on screen and printed on cards.

Certified random draw

Transparent algorithm, full history, undo on input mistakes.

Easy prize handling

List your prizes (full house, line, double line…), photos, descriptions, on-screen spotlight.

Co-hosts

Share the hosting between volunteers: one on draw, one on verification, one on screen.

Brief & recap PDF

Host brief sent before the session, recap PDF (winners, drawn numbers) sent after.

Testimonials

They already use it

Seniors loto

« Prep was cut by four. We print cards the night before; on the day we focus on the vibe. And our local sponsors are highlighted all evening on the screen. »

A
Association president
Seniors club · 180 cards
Village loto

« We were hesitating with installable software. BingoShow runs in the browser, it works on the community center PC. Full-house verification in 1 click avoided disputes. »

C
Town committee treasurer
Annual loto · 400 cards
Telethon

« An all-volunteer team, no IT background. We picked up BingoShow in 30 minutes, and the big-screen draw made an impact. »

P
Parish volunteer
Charity loto · 220 cards

Everything you need to know to run an association loto

A bingo fundraiser is a great way to fund your cause while bringing the community together. Here are the key points to make yours a success, or check our full step-by-step organization guide.

Do I need a license to run a charity bingo?

It depends on your location. Charitable gaming rules vary by country and US state, and many require a license or permit for a fundraiser bingo. A few principles apply almost everywhere for your event to stay on the right side of the rules:

  • The organizer should be a registered nonprofit or charity
  • The circle of participants must be restricted (members, supporters, local audience)
  • Prizes must not be redeemable for cash
  • Per-card stake must remain modest (usually < €20)

Above certain prize thresholds, extra authorization may be required. The safest move is to contact your local authority or state gaming commission early; it's usually free and quick.

How much does an association loto earn?

Figures vary by village size, communication and format. Here are real-world orders of magnitude collected from user associations:

Loto typeCards soldGross revenueNet profit
Village loto (small)80–150€400–€750€200–€500
Mid-size association loto200–400€1,000–€2,000€600–€1,500
Telethon / patron-saint loto500–1,000+€2,500–€5,000€1,800–€4,000
Urban loto (large association, broad audience)1,000+€5,000–€12,000€4,000–€10,000

Main costs are the venue (rental or municipal loan), prizes (purchased or donated by sponsors), card printing and communication. The profit/revenue ratio sits around 60–80% on a well-run loto.

How to find prizes from local sponsors?

More than 80% of an association loto's prizes are donations from local shops or businesses. Here's the method that works:

  1. Reach out 2 months ahead — intro letter + in-person visit
  2. Pitch the association — its mission, reach, expected attendance
  3. Detail the benefits — logo on cards, mention in communication, photo at the loto, social media post
  4. Target neighborhood shops — baker, restaurant, mini-market, garage, local bank, hairdresser
  5. Diversify — food, gift vouchers, services, objects — for varied prize values
  6. Thank publicly — on the spot, on socials and by post-event letter

On top of that, plan a €100–€300 budget to fill gaps (restaurant tickets, generic gift vouchers, toys). The full house should always be an attractive main prize (often a hamper, a TV, a stay).

How to communicate to fill the venue?

The golden rule: start communication at least 3 weeks ahead, with a peak 1 week before. Channels by effectiveness:

  • Posters around town — local shops, community center, café, library, schools, partner groups
  • Municipal bulletin — free if submitted in time (often 2 months before publication)
  • Social media — association page + local Facebook groups (“Living in [Town]”)
  • Local press — a simple email to the local editorial team 10 days before, with photo and practical info
  • Word of mouth — each volunteer invites at least 5 people
  • Mailing the member base — save for the final week to push reminders

Which types of associations is BingoShow suitable for?

BingoShow is built for every group that runs a bingo fundraiser:

Seniors clubs

Weekly or monthly lotos, regular audience, friendly atmosphere.

Town committees

Annual bingo to fund the community fair, broad audience.

Parishes

Lent or Advent lotos, patron-saint celebrations, funding works.

School PTA

See our dedicated school fair page. Prizes for kids + parents.

Firefighters / Telethon

Charity lotos, audience motivated by the cause, big volumes possible.

Rotary / Lions Club

Service-club lotos, strong sponsors, prestigious prizes.

Loto, quine, rifle, poule: the regional variants

“Association loto” has different names by region, but it's exactly the same game (90 balls, 27 squares, 3 stages):

  • Quine — South-West, Catalonia, Pyrenees
  • Rifle — Languedoc, Provence, Cévennes
  • Poule (au gibier) — Brittany, Normandy
  • Loto — the generic term across the rest of the country

BingoShow handles all these variants — you can customize the displayed labels (“Quine!” instead of “Line!”) to honor your association's local culture.

FAQ

Your questions, answered

Do I need a license to run a charity bingo?
It depends on where you are. Charitable gaming is regulated, and many countries and US states require a license or permit for a fundraiser bingo. Check with your local authority or state charitable-gaming office before your event. Good practice almost everywhere: a registered nonprofit as organizer, modest stakes and non-cash prizes.
How much does an association loto earn on average?
A loto of 150 cards at €5 brings in about €750 gross. After costs (prizes, venue, printing), a well-run loto generates between €500 and €3,000 net for the association. The biggest lotos (Telethon, patron-saint celebrations) can exceed €5,000–€10,000.
How much does BingoShow cost?
The Pro plan at €9 / month covers nearly every group (up to 500 cards per session, unlimited sponsors), or take it as a 30-day pass at €14 with no commitment. There's also a free plan to get started.
Can we print the cards ourselves?
Yes. BingoShow generates a print-ready PDF (A4 or US Letter), with unique IDs per card. Print at home, at your local print shop, or send it to your usual printer.
Do I need special equipment for the room display?
No. A projector, TV or big screen with a browser (smart TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Apple TV) is enough. No install, the room screen opens in any recent browser.
How many players / cards per session?
Up to 500 cards per session on the Pro plan, with no hard limit on players (a player can have several cards). For very large lotos (>500 cards), switch to Premium.
How to find prizes for your loto?
Reach out to village shops 2 months ahead: baker, restaurant, garage, local bank, mutual insurance. Present your association and the visibility (logo shown, mention in local press, social media). Over 80% of an association loto's prizes are donations. As a backup, plan a €100–€300 budget to fill gaps.
How to quickly verify a winning card?
Each card has a unique printed ID. The host enters the number from their phone or laptop, BingoShow confirms the card in 1 second and lists drawn / missing numbers. No more dispute risk.
Can we highlight our sponsors?
Yes — unlimited sponsors on the Pro plan. Logos and photos appear on screen (rotation between draws), and can be printed directly on cards.
What about GDPR?
100% hosted in France, no personal player data (cards are anonymous, identified by a simple number). GDPR compliance documented in our privacy notice.

Also worth a look

Your next loto, set up in under an hour

Free account, 1 free session every month. Enough to test the full flow — prep, printing, screen, draw, verification — before subscribing.