California legal term
bingo in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “bingo” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “bingo” mean in California criminal law?
“bingo” means a game of chance in which prizes are awarded on the basis of designated numbers or symbols that are marked or covered by the player on a tangible card in the player’s possession and that conform to numbers or symbols, selected at random and announced by a live caller. (Cal. Penal Code § 326.5)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.