NO raffles, lottery, etc.
 

I read on my school website that if we held a raffle its a misdeamoner!! (sorry for spelling, I got to go soon)

From what I know, raffles aren't allowed for my sorority. Even with fundraisers, there are a bunch of restrictions on what we can do. As with most NPC orgs, we aren't allowed to attach our name to anything alcohol related or even hold a fundraising event at a venue that serves alcohol.

but i have attended a lot of greek parties that have alcohol but you have to buy it and it's by the hall/club/hotel not by the greeks themselves.

Alcohol at fundraiser parties? That seems to go against the rules.

[Parties in general have different rules, but for NPC, alcohol and fundraising is supposed to be a no-no...]

That most likely means it against STATE LAW. to hold raffles or other types of gambling. Most states put RAFFLES in the same category as CASINOS, Horse Tracks, etc.

Sometimes, though, there are ways to get around the whole raffle being against the rules thing.

Raffles are also illegal in Arkansas. What some orgs do, instead of calling it a raffle, sell something small (some candy, maybe some kind of baked good like a cookie) for $1.00 which entitles the person to a drawing. Make any sense? Like, you would ask someone, "Would you like to buy a rice krispy treat for a dollar and have your name entered into a drawing for this TV?" I can't speak for ALL states, but I know here, you can do that. Because it's not technically gambling because the person buying a chance is also getting something.

However, I would DEFINATELY get the ok before doing that. It may be that you can't do any kind of drawing. It just depends on the area. :)

If fundraisers can't be held in any place that serves alcohol, does it mean that restaurants are a no-no, even if they revoke their alcohol licence for a night?

In Iowa, raffles fall under the gambling issue. HOWEVER, you can apply with the secretary of state for a raffle license. It cost very little, and there are special tax forms to be filed after the raffle is over. A bit of paperwork to make it legal, but not overwhelmingly so.

It can't be that hard to get either. High schools (at least mine and my brother's) did raffles all the time.

I have also had sisters go to parties where brothers of a fraternity were auctioned off. Isn't that along the same lines? It was advertised as a fundraiser.

i have seen parties where they are raffles, I dont think they have permits for them and it was small raffles or for the church. but how do i go around getting permit?

if someone pays 50 cents to "vote" on a professor for the Jail fundraiser and they have chances of winning a pizza party for their class (the class with the most votes will get pizza party) will that be a raffle? or is that legal?? We want to raise money for the EDS department to have a display case in the Eureka hall. They need one badly.

Check with your secretary of state's office. Generally the information is on the state's website.

If you pay money for a chance to win something (even if you get a token for the money) that falls in to the raffle zone in Iowa, and you need a gambling/raffle license. It is so darned easy to get the permit, why take the chance of something going wrong?

thanks for the advice - I will deffy look that up

In Oklahoma, a raffle is considered a lottery if there is a cash prize and is therefore illegal. However, if you do not have a cash prize, you're free and clear.

THe same in North Carolina as well :)

The rules in Texas (under the Texas Charitable Raffle Enabling Act) are

your organization must meet one of the following in order to conduct a raffle.

An association organized primarily for religious purposes that has been in existance in Texas for at least 10 years.
A NPO that has existed for at least 3 years.
The organization conducting the raffle may not compensate a person directly or indirectly.
An institution of higher education, shall allow the sale of tickets to a raffle by a student organization recognized by the institution.

Money cannot be offered as a prize, and prizes may not be valued over $25,000. Each prize must be in posession of the organization, or the organization must post a bond for the full amount of the value of the prize(s) with the counter clerk of the county where the raffle will be held.

Then there's a bunch of rules saying what they have to have on there, and your limited to how many times a year you can do it.

Anyway gambling, this is in reference to doing Casino Nights etc in Texas. In texas three basic elements comprise the offense of gambling consideration, chance, and prize.

Consideration, if there is an admission charge there is an element of consideration. If there is no admission charge and all the guests are given gaming peices then there is no consideration.

Chance, well.... this one you can't really avoid.

Prize: Prize is something offered that has a value. Certificates or trophies have no resale value would not be considered prizes. If there is no charge for gaming peices then prizes of value can be auctioned or given away based on willing.

Suggested Formats
1) Element of Consideration Missing: No Admission Charge (isnt condusive to fund raising).
2) Element of Chance Missing: Substitute games of chance with games of skill.
3) Element of Prize is missing: Door-Prize drawing during or at the end of event. Award certificates or trophies to high stakes winners.

Anyway this is probobly more than you neeeded to know. But hey, gives anyone in texas the info they need.

That's a really good idea! :D

can you do a guessing game? like guess how many jellybeans are in the jar and closest wins a prize? these can be done in texas and groups use it to get around the one raffle per year.

This is an old post...
 

But instead of a raffle, you can hold an Opportunity Drawing. Same principles, without the legalese.

I have used this drawing when working with nonprofits and for proft groups.

This is way late, but it might still help.

In California, raffles are illegal unless conducted as a donation (California Penal Code 319). Basically a "raffle" contains 3 elements:

1) Consideration (i.e. Paying money for a ticket)
2) Chance
3) Prize

To make it legal, you must remove at least one element. The easiest way to do this is to remove consideration; like sairose said in an earlier post, if you sell something tangible (food, entry to a dance, etc.) and the raffle ticket comes with it, then it's legal. The only drawback is that if someone comes to you and says they want a raffle ticket but don't want to purchase anything to get it, you're obligated by law to give it to them. It's the whole sweepstakes idea that there's "no purchase necessary to participate." Most people don't really know that raffles are illegal and that requesting a ticket is an option.

You can also take away the chance element, but basically everyone has to win/receive something if you do that. Example: you pass out chocolate bars at the entry to an event and the inside of the paper wrapping has a discount coupon or tells if you're an "instant winner." This would be ok because either way, you win the prize of the chocolate bar, but you may also win an additional prize. Radio stations and department stores do this all the time.

Kind of pointless to take the prize element away...

Raffles and the State of Texas
 

Most student organizations are not qualified to conduct raffles in the State of Texas. Raffles involve paying money for the chance to win a prize of greater value, which is considered gambling. Instead of raffles, SALD suggests that student organizations hold "Free Drawings" in which no money is exchanged.

The Charitable Raffle Enabling Act, effective January 1, 1990, permits "qualified organizations" to hold up to two raffles per calendar year.



Two types of student organizations may conduct raffles:

* An association organized primarily for religious purposes that has been in existence in Texas for at least 10 years.

* A nonprofit organization that has existed for at least the three preceding years, during which it has had a governing body duly elected by its members and is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c), Internal Revenue Code; does not participate in any political campaign. [A copy of your organization's IRS Letter of Determination verifying 501(c) status will be required.]


Student organizations may conduct raffles on campus for qualified off-campus organizations. Any organization conducting a raffle on campus must complete a table application and follow university ticketing procedures. Raffle tickets may not be advertised statewide or through paid advertisements. Each raffle ticket must state the name and address of the organization holding the raffle, the name of an officer of the organization, the price of the ticket, and a general description of each prize to be awarded that has a value of over $10. A prize may not be money. Only members of the organization may sell tickets. No one may be compensated directly or indirectly for organizing or conducting a raffle or for selling raffle tickets.

For further information on raffles, refer to http://www.oag.state.tx.us/AG_Public...s/raffle.shtml or contact Student Activities and Leadership Development (SSB 4.104).