Bingo

Check with your County or municipality.

Per this attorney site, the answer would likely be yes, you need a license.

As I understand it, you only have to have a license if you get "proceeds" for the games. I think if you are giving all the money back to the winners, it would not be considered proceeds.

It is controlled by the Texas Lottery Commission and organizations that can do bingo to raise money is very limited and does not include HOAs.

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/OC/htm/OC.2001.htm

Even if you technically need a license I don't think anyone would care as long as it is for fun any you are not making a profit.

Funny, that's what we did in removing and planting trees.
Everything was good until someone contacted the County.
We then faced monetary penalties and had to jump through hoops to satisfy the County.

Ben is partially right.
Everything will likely be fine unless someone contacts the authorities.

I think you are missing my point completely.

The point is that Associations need to comply with applicable statutes/codes or face consequences when the violation of these statutes/codes become known to the appropriate authority.

Disgruntled member who was denied an architectural request knows that you need a license for bingo. Sees that the Association is starting to hold bingo games. Rather then inform the Association about this issue, they simply inform the appropriate authority.

Disgruntled player who didn't win wants revenge and informs the appropriate authority that a game is being played and they might not have a license.

Other examples:

Disgruntled member who sees an individual on the board as the problem realizes that the spouse if being paid by the Association as an independent contractor. Member chooses to report the issue to the IRS.

Association encourage board members to serve by waiving all or a partial of their assessments. Person who lost informs the IRS that board members are employees and the Association is failing to report earnings.

It doesn't matter if it's trees, bingo, waiving assessments or something else. All was likely done with good intentions by the Association. However, if it's a violation of applicable statutes or County codes there are potential consequences if someone becomes disgruntled and chooses to exercise their right and contact the appropriate authority.

Kerry/Carol,

The point is that the Board doesn't have the luxury of deciding which laws they want to break.

They need to comply with all of them (even those that appear small and insignificant).

Ben,

I agree with you and understood your point.
Realistically, there will likely be no issues.

However, we should point out everything so the OP and their Board can make an informed decision.

If someone contacts the authorities, there may be consequences.
There might not be. However, knowing violating the law can result in the D&O insurance denying any claim if there were.