Raffle permit requirements

Raffle overview

A raffle is a lottery where people buy tickets for a chance to win prizes.

Raffles over $20,000 must be authorised by a raffle permit.

For raffles under $20,000, the organisation may still need to apply for a permit if they cannot meet specific conditions, such as the length of the raffle and/or the value of the tickets.

Conditions also apply when conducting a small raffle (total prize value is $500 or less) and conducting a raffle with a total prize value of $20,000 or less.

Scroll down to find the details for these conditions.

Permit application forms

To apply for a permit, a declared community or charitable organisation can complete an Application for a minor gaming permit - raffle, lucky envelope, fundraising event. For a copy of this form please email [email protected](opens in a new window).

To amend a condition, or details on a minor gaming permit, complete the amendment to a condition on a minor gaming permit form. For a copy of this form please email [email protected](opens in a new window).

The raffle draw

The method of the draw must allow:

• each ticket in the draw a random, equal chance of being drawn
• the first ticket drawn to win first prize (if there's multiple prizes).

The draw must not allow:

• reverse draws (drawn in reverse order)
• more than one entry to be deemed the winner of the same prize.

Raffle proceeds must go directly to the community or charitable organisation that has been declared by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC).

Third party raffles

If a third party intends to conduct a raffle to raise funds for a declared community or charitable organisation, they will need the organisation's written permission.

A third party cannot be paid to conduct the raffle, unless they are a commercial raffle organiser that is licensed by the VGCCC. All raffle proceeds must go directly to the declared organisation.

General instructions for raffles

Cash and debit cards as raffle prizes

Cash is not a legal raffle prize. If the raffle prize is associated with travel (e.g., accommodation or flights), a maximum of 10% of the total prize value can be cash.

Debit cards are not permitted as raffle prizes in Victoria. Store gift cards can be offered as long as they’re limited enough in scope (e.g., if the cards are limited to a specific store, or set of stores).

Alternative prizes

Alternative prizes can be offered if:

• they are only slightly different from the original prize, and
• the winner accepts the alternative prize.

(E.g., if the alternative prize was a car of the same make and model as the one advertised, but in a different colour)

Reverse raffles

Reverse raffles are illegal in Victoria.

A reverse raffle draw is where the last ticket drawn is declared the winner of the first prize. The Gambling Regulations 2015 state that the first raffle ticket drawn must win first prize.

Liquor as a raffle prize in a licensed venue

For a venue that is licensed to supply liquor for consumption off the premises, it is legal to offer liquor as a raffle prize.

This is so long as the other legal requirements are met, e.g., the raffle must be:

• for the benefit of the declared community or charitable organisation, and
• not for the profit of the venue.

For venues not licensed to supply liquor for off-premises consumption, it’s a breach of their liquor licence to offer it as a raffle prize. If they want to offer liquor as a raffle prize, they’ll need a temporary limited liquor licence.

Liquor cannot be supplied to minors, as a raffle prize or otherwise.

Liquor as a raffle prize in an unlicensed venue

An unlicensed venue can hold a raffle with liquor as a prize as long as:

• every ticket buyer has a chance of winning a prize, and
• one or more of those prizes is liquor.

However, they’ll need a temporary limited liquor licence if:

• every ticket buyer will win a prize and,
• every prize is liquor.

The unlicensed venue also needs to meet the other legal requirements for holding a raffle.

Delivery of prizes

Prizes must be delivered to winners within 28 days after the draw.

Disposal of unclaimed prizes

In the event a raffle winner (where the prize value is $500 or less):

• cannot be identified, or
• no person comes forward to claim the prize within a reasonable period after the draw is loudly stated

then the raffle must be drawn again, or (if the method of the draw is a spinning wheel) the wheel spun again.

For all other raffles

If it happens that:

• a winner doesn't claim a raffle prize, and
• the person conducting the raffle can't find a prize winner, after reasonable steps have been taken,

then the organisation benefiting from the raffle:

• must ensure the prize is retained for 3 months after the draw
• may sell the prize for a reasonable price, if the prize is:
  
  • livestock, or
  • property of a perishable nature.

They'll need to keep the proceeds (less reasonable costs of the sale) for 12 months after the draw.

If the prize has still not been claimed after 12 months, the community or charitable organisation must:

• sell the prize, or
• dispose of the prize if it hasn't already been done.

They must then pay the proceeds (less reasonable costs for sale or disposal) to the treasurer, for payment into the consolidated fund.

Conditions for conducting a small raffle
(total prize value $500 or less)

A small raffle is a raffle where:

• the value of prizes does not exceed $500
  
• every other raffle conducted by the same community or charitable organisation on the same day (or within an 8-hour period) does not exceed $1,000
  
• the sale of the first ticket and the drawing of the raffle occurs on the same day or within an 8-hour period.

The declared organisation must ensure that:

• the total value of tickets for sale must be:
  
  • not less than twice, and
  • not more than 6 times, the total value of prizes
• a person must not be paid for selling tickets
• a ticket in a raffle must not be a ticket in another raffle
• a book buyer’s prize must not be offered or paid.

Sale of tickets

Tickets for a small raffle can be:

• a blank raffle book numbered on both:
  
  • butt, and
  • the ticket, or
• where the type of draw is:
  
  • a spinning wheel
  • buttless numbered tickets
  • from a perforated ticket sheet, or
  • having no more numbers than divisions on the wheel.

Winner notification and prize distribution

If it happens that:

• a winner can't be identified, or
• no person comes forward to claim the prize within a reasonable period after the draw is loudly stated,

the raffle must be drawn again or (if the method of the draw is a spinning wheel) the wheel spun again.

Keeping records

The person conducting the raffle must keep accurate records for 3 years on:

• the disposition of funds, and
• the distribution of prizes.

Conditions for conducting a raffle
(total prize value $20,000 or less)

Conditions include the following:

• tickets may be sold for a maximum period of 3 months
  
• the value of the total number of tickets for sale must:
  • not be greater than 6 times, and
  • not less than twice the value, of all of the prizes
    
• a book-buyer’s prize must not be offered or paid
  
• a ticket in a raffle must not be a ticket in another raffle, and
  
• a ticket that's been drawn is not eligible to be drawn again.

Sale of tickets

Tickets must be printed and sellers must ensure that a permanent record is made. There should be enough information to identify and locate the person the ticket is sold to.

Only a licensed commercial raffle organiser can conduct a raffle — and get benefits — on behalf of a community or charitable organisation.

In this case, the name and (if applicable) the Australian Charity Number (ACN) of the responsible person must be printed on:

• every ticket, and
• on all material advertising the raffle.

The following must be printed on each ticket:

• name of the organisation to benefit from the raffle
• name of the political party where proceeds will go (if applicable)
• a description of each prize and its value
• the date, time, and location where the raffle will be drawn
• the method of publication, or notification of results
• ticket prices (if tickets are sold at equal or different prices).

The draw

The draw must be conducted:

• on the day printed on the ticket, and
• not more than 14 days after the (proposed) last ticket sale.

*Note: a ticket that's been drawn is not eligible to be drawn again.

Winner notification and prize distribution

The results of the draw must be published, and winners notified as per the method printed on the tickets.

Prizes must be delivered to winners within 28 days after the draw.

Keeping records

The person conducting the raffle must keep accurate records for 3 years, on:

• the disposition of funds
• all tickets which have been printed, and
• the distribution of prizes.

Conditions for conducting a raffle (where prize value exceeds $20,000)

When the prize value of a raffle exceeds $20,000, the declared organisation must get a minor gaming permit to conduct the raffle. For a copy of this form please email [email protected](opens in a new window).

Sale of tickets

The following applies to ticket sales:

• the number of tickets printed must not exceed the number authorised by the permit
  
• tickets must only be sold during the authorised (permit) period
  
• the responsible person must ensure sufficient information is obtained (to identify/locate the person the ticket is sold to)
  
• a person who sells tickets:
  
  • must be authorised by the permit holder/responsible person
  • can't be paid, other than reasonable out of pocket expenses. (In the event that payment is offered the person must be licensed as a commercial raffle organiser by us)
    
• The following must be printed on each ticket:
  • name of the permit holder, and permit number
    
  • the maximum number of tickets authorised by the permit
  • ticket price
  • a description of each prize and its retail value
  • when and where the raffle will be drawn
  • the method of publication or notification of results
  • details of any book buyer’s prize authorised under the permit
  • name of political party (if proceeds are for a political party)
    
    
• If the responsible person for the raffle is:
  
  • not an organisation or charity employee, and
  • has an agreement to promote/conduct the raffle for reward,

the company name and number, and name and ACN (if applicable), of the responsible person must be printed on every ticket or on all material advertising the raffle.

• A ticket in the raffle may only be a ticket in another raffle if authorised on the permit.

Additionally, tickets must be printed and ticket buyers’ contact details must be collected.

The draw

The raffle must be drawn on the day authorised by the permit.

A ticket which has been drawn is not eligible to be drawn again, unless authorised by the permit.

Winner notification and prize distribution

The results of the draw must be published, and winners notified as per the method printed on the tickets.

Prizes must be delivered to winners within 28 days after the draw.

Keeping records

The person conducting the raffle must keep accurate records for 3 years, on:

• the way raffle tickets were sold and how sales were publicised
• the names of those buying tickets, how many tickets were sold and returned, and how much money was remitted
• when and how the raffle was drawn
• the names and addresses of winners and a description (including the retail value) of their prizes.

Additional conditions on raffle permits

The Commission may put additional conditions on raffle permits. The permit holder must comply with these.

Requirements for a Commercial raffle organiser's licence

Community or charitable organisations can contract licensed Commercial Raffle Organisers (CROs) to run raffles on their behalf. In these cases, the organisations still need a minor gaming permit.

The licensed CROs are listed on our Commercial raffles organisers page.

A person is considered to be a CRO if they:

• are not an employee of a declared community or charitable organisation
• conduct a raffle on behalf of a community or charitable organisation
• receive payment for your services.

Political party raffle requirements

If proceeds of a raffle by a community or charitable organisation are to be paid to (or for) the purposes of a political party, then every ticket in the raffle must:

(a) state that proceeds of the raffle are to be paid to (or for) the purposes of a political party

(b) state the name of that political party

*Note: this is not a requirement if the political party is a declared community or charitable organisation.

Banking requirements

Declared organisations must keep a single account approved by the Commission. This must be at a deposit-taking institution in Victoria.

This account must be established in:

• the organisation’s name, and

be used for all financial transactions relating to raffle conduct.