Finding a spot
Where to buy pull tabs near you
Short answer: not at the gas station. Pull tabs are charitable gaming, so they live in bars, veterans' posts, and clubs, not on the lottery counter. Here is exactly what kind of place to look for, and the fastest way to find one nearby.
The short answer
Pull tabs are sold at licensed charitable-gaming venues: the game is run by a nonprofit to raise money, and a local establishment hosts it. That is why you find them in the kind of place you would go for a beer and a game, not the counter where you buy a scratch-off.
The usual places
- Neighborhood bars and taverns. The most common spot by far. Look for a pull-tab box or dispenser near the register.
- VFW and American Legion posts.Veterans' posts are classic pull-tab hosts, and the proceeds fund their programs.
- Fraternal clubs. Elks, Moose, Eagles, Knights of Columbus, and similar lodges very often run deals.
- Bingo halls. Where charitable bingo is offered, pull tabs are usually sold alongside it.
- Some restaurants and bowling alleys. Anywhere a nonprofit has a charitable-gaming license and a willing host.
Where you will not find them
Skip the gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. Those sell the state lottery's scratch-offs, which look similar but are a completely different product run by the state, not a local charity. If you are weighing the two, see pull tabs vs scratch-offs. And despite what a few sketchy websites claim, you cannot legitimately buy real pull tabs online: they are sold in person at the venue running the deal.
The fastest way to find one
Instead of guessing which bar has them, open the Pull Tab Finder map: it shows community-verified spots near you, sorted by distance, with the game types each one offers. Free, no account needed.
Find pull tabs by state
Where pull tabs are common depends a lot on where you are. Browse pull tabs by state to see where they cluster, then let the app pinpoint the closest ones. And before you go, it is worth a quick check of the pull-tab laws in your state, since a few states do not permit them at all.
New to the game itself? Start with how pull tabs work, then you will know exactly what to ask for at the bar.
Where to buy pull tabs FAQ
- Where can I buy pull tabs near me?
- Pull tabs are sold at licensed charitable-gaming locations: neighborhood bars and taverns, VFW and American Legion posts, fraternal clubs like the Elks, Moose, and Eagles, bingo halls, and some restaurants and bowling alleys. The Pull Tab Finder app maps the ones closest to you.
- Can you buy pull tabs at gas stations or grocery stores?
- Generally no. Gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores sell state lottery scratch-offs, not pull tabs. Pull tabs are charitable gaming run by nonprofits, so they are hosted at bars, clubs, and posts rather than retail counters.
- Can you buy pull tabs online?
- No. Pull tabs are sold in person at the licensed venue running the deal. There is no legitimate way to buy the paper tickets online, and sites claiming to sell them are not the real charitable-gaming product.
- Do you need to be a member to buy pull tabs at a club?
- It depends on the venue. Public bars and restaurants sell to any adult, while some private clubs and posts may ask you to be a member or a guest of one. When in doubt, call ahead or bring a member friend.