{"id":3481,"date":"2023-04-04T07:11:16","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T07:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theukrules.co.uk\/?page_id=3481"},"modified":"2023-09-05T10:27:40","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T10:27:40","slug":"running-a-raffle","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.theukrules.co.uk\/rules\/legal\/community\/running-a-raffle\/","title":{"rendered":"Raffle Laws UK 2022 | Running Raffles Rules and Regulations"},"content":{"rendered":"
Running raffles, sweepstakes, or lotteries are popular methods used to raise funds. In most cases, they produce a gain (e.g. profit or kitty) through the sale of specified and numbered raffle tickets.<\/p>\n
So, how do you win? As a rule, participants will draw tickets at random so that the winning holder or holders get to claim a prize.<\/p>\n
Raffles Rules vs. Lotteries Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n In fact, some raffles are a legal type of lottery. Whereas, others may be drawn alongside lotteries. Feeling a little confused?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The basic function of a raffle, a fete tombola, and lotteries are similar in many ways. Even so, there are several significant and fundamental differences between these types of money raisers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Are you wondering how to sell raffle tickets and stay within the law? Well, before you start selling, each raffle ticket must specify the (all):<\/p>\n Charity Raffle Rules<\/strong>: In the United Kingdom, any registered charities<\/a> that do raffles must state that it is a ‘registered charity’ or display their charity number.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Gambling Act 2005 supersedes the ‘Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976’ and now oversees the legalities of lotteries and some prize draws in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n Check out the ‘Gambling Commission’ website for further information. It has comprehensive details on the complex UK raffle laws and the legitimacy of lotteries, and tombolas (contact details below).<\/p>\n The bottom line is this:<\/strong><\/p>\n There are important raffle rules and regulations that operators must abide by. It depends on what type of raffle, lotto, or tombola (usually held at a fairground) you are organising. But, failure to do so can end in prosecution by legal authorities in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n You can also contact the local council<\/a> department. They can provide extra guidance on the requirements to run a raffle legally in the UK. Councils will also help operators secure a raffle licence (where necessary and applicable).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: Selling raffle tickets at a discount, or giving them out to participants for free, is an illegal activity in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: High value, or newsworthy prizes, may attract a local VIP or press reporters for further online advertising and promotions. They will be keen to report any award and prize-giving ceremony to the lucky winners.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are two principle types of raffle licence that you may need to get from the Gambling Commission to keep your event legal.<\/p>\n Licences will be issued to those who want to run, or to promote, a large society lottery or for community authorities<\/a> to carry out their lotteries. The licence issued will either be an operating licence or a personal management licence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n You may also need to obtain a remote gambling licence. These are for the organisers of a lottery carried out by means of remote electronic communication. As a rule, participants in this type of online raffle use the Internet (e.g. Facebook raffles) or a telephone.<\/p>\n There are some circumstances in which you do not need a lottery operating licence. But, you cannot run them for private or commercial gain.<\/p>\n Typically, some of the common events where you do not need to have a lottery operating licence, include:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Advertising and promoting a raffle online is becoming very popular. After all, it seems to be a simple way of raising money or having some innocent fun on your favourite social networking<\/a> platform.<\/p>\n Nonetheless, lotteries (including things like raffles, sweepstakes and certain other types of competitions) are a form of gambling. As a result, they are subject to laws about who can run them – and how.<\/p>\n Key takeaway:<\/strong><\/p>\n It has become commonplace to see people running lotteries on many social networks, such as Facebook and Instagram. Even so, it is important to ensure they are lawful and you are not breaking the law (e.g. running an illegal lottery).<\/p>\n In Great Britain, the law only allows for the promotion of lotteries for charities<\/a> or to benefit other ‘good causes’. Thus, you cannot promote a lottery for commercial profit or for private gain.<\/p>\n A significant number of lotteries seen on social networking sites are unlawful in the United Kingdom. The Gambling Commission is working with many platforms (along with the payment processors) to close them down.<\/p>\n As a result, some lottery and raffle promoters may:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Gambling Act makes it a criminal offence to promote an unlawful lottery. Hence, you may be acting unlawfully by running a lottery on a social networking site.<\/p>\n As such, getting caught means you could face prosecution, receive a fine, imprisoned, or both (if you get convicted).<\/p>\n In some cases, you will need to get a special licence from the Gambling Commission (or your local council authority<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
\nUK Rules for Selling Raffle Tickets<\/h2>\n
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\nRunning a Raffle Legally for Profit<\/h2>\n
\nHow to Organise a Raffle?<\/h2>\n
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\nUK Rules for Drawing the Raffle<\/h2>\n
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\nTypes of Lottery Operating Licences<\/h2>\n
\nOnline Raffle UK Laws<\/h2>\n
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\nAre Facebook Raffles Legal UK?<\/h2>\n
Are You Running it for a Good Cause?<\/h5>\n
Promoting a Lottery on Social Media<\/h5>\n
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Penalties for Promoting an Unlawful Lottery<\/h5>\n
Do You Need a Licence?<\/h5>\n
\nThe Gambling Commission<\/h2>\n