How do you legally hold a raffle in Illinois?
The License Application to Conduct a Raffle should be downloaded, completed and mailed to the Board's Springfield or Chicago office, or faxed to (217)782-5959. In the case of an approved application, a signed and date-stamped copy of the application will be returned to the committee.
How much is a raffle license in Illinois?
Organizations conducting charitable games are required to pay a $400 license fee. Licenses are valid for two years.
Do you need a license to run raffles?
If you are running a raffle where tickets are not sold before the event, it falls under the terms of an incidental lottery. As such, you will not require a licence or any specific permissions. However, you must adhere to the following rules: All tickets must be sold at the location during the event.
Are raffles legal in Chicago?
State Law reference— 230 ILCS 15/0.01 et seq. 5-21-2: - LICENSE REQUIRED: No person shall conduct a raffle within the corporate limits of the city without first having obtained a license from the corporate authorities.
Can you raffle things for profit?
In California, only nonprofit organizations can legally conduct raffles. Before holding a raffle, you must file a raffle registration form. You must also file an annual raffle report form that reports on the raffles your organization conducts in a given year.
Is Queen of Hearts legal in Illinois?
Although considered gambling, these raffles are legally permissible under the regulations established in the Illinois Raffles and Poker Runs Act 230 ILCS 15/0.01 et al., (the “Raffle Act”).
What can I do instead of a raffle?
12 Revenue Enhancers to Try at Your Next FundraiserTicket Upgrades. ... 50/50 Raffle. ... Gift Card Frenzy. ... Wine Tree (or Wheelbarrow, Cork Pull, Bingo etc.) ... Purse Prize Raffle. ... Golden Ticket. ... Blue Line Raffle. ... Silent Auction Raffle.More items...
Do I need a licence to run a raffle on Facebook?
If you are considering running a lottery on Facebook, make sure it is lawful. You need a licence to run an online lottery. Online lotteries include lotteries on social media, auction or selling sites, fundraising platforms and live streaming platforms.
Can I run a raffle page on Facebook?
Anyone can set up a raffle group on Facebook and then begin inviting contacts to join, although Facebook says it shuts down illegal raffle pages - those not licensed by the Gambling Commission - as soon as they are reported. The page owners then choose a prize, and sell tickets - using PayPal or a bank transfer.
How do you do a raffle with multiple prizes?
You include the raffle entry as part of each ticket. You can use numbered tickets where you tear off the stub and do a drawing by hand, or you can can do an electronic drawing of a number by using a computer program. You can award multiple door prizes for the event and do drawings for those prizes throughout the event.
Are poker runs illegal in Illinois?
Poker runs are finally legal in Illinois.
Is a poker run considered gambling?
Is a poker run considered gambling? A poker run is not gambling since there is no traditional buy-in and the prize is generally not a cash award.
How do you do a raffle with multiple prizes?
You include the raffle entry as part of each ticket. You can use numbered tickets where you tear off the stub and do a drawing by hand, or you can can do an electronic drawing of a number by using a computer program. You can award multiple door prizes for the event and do drawings for those prizes throughout the event.
Are poker runs illegal in Illinois?
Poker runs are finally legal in Illinois.
Is a poker run considered gambling?
Is a poker run considered gambling? A poker run is not gambling since there is no traditional buy-in and the prize is generally not a cash award.
What groups are eligible for a raffle?
Generally speaking, only the following groups are eligible to organize a raffle or poker run: nonprofit charitable, religious, fraternal, veterans, educational, business, or labor groups.
What is the requirement for a raffle license?
One is that the entire net proceeds of the raffle must go to the lawful purposes of the nonprofit entity receiving the license. Another is a sworn statement signed by the presiding officer and secretary of the applicant vouching for the nonprofit nature of the group.
Is gambling legal in Illinois?
In Illinois, gambling is tightly regulated. The Criminal Code forbids all forms of gambling except for the ones it specifically allows. It permits video gaming as per the provisions of the Video Gaming Act, riverboat gambling as per the provisions of the Riverboat Gambling Act, and the State-run lottery as per the provisions of the Illinois Lottery Law.
Can a third party do a raffle?
Some businesses allow third parties to conduct raffles and poker runs on their premises. If yours is one of them, and even if, to your eyes, the group is clearly a benevolent nonprofit, it’s worth checking to make sure the raffle has a proper license.
Can you lose your slot machine license in Illinois?
You especially don’t want to get caught in noncompliance if the Illinois Gaming Board has licensed your establishment to be a slot machine business. You could lose your Illinois gaming license.
Can you run a raffle for charity?
Similarly, it allows raffles and poker runs, but only if conducted as per the provisions of the Raffles and Poker Run Act. This means that your raffle or poker run, even if conducted for charity, must operate according to the rules the Act sets forth. Otherwise you’re breaking the law.
What is a raffle?
A raffle is a lottery or game of chance used as a way of raising funds, subject to certain restrictions . Raffle winners are typically decided through a drawing or some other method based on an element of chance. A raffle does not include a "skill" event, nor can a raffle be determined by the outcome of a publicly exhibited sporting event.
How long is a raffle license valid?
However, a raffle license may be valid for multiple raffles to be conducted over a period of up to one year. This option is only for committees that intend to conduct regularly scheduled raffles, such as a 50/50 drawing at monthly meetings.
How long does it take to get a raffle license?
Although the Board is allowed 30 days to act on a license application, the process generally takes place the same day the application is received. It is therefore possible for same-day approval of a raffle application for an event taking place that day, but it is recommended that an application be submitted at least several days before the actual date of the proposed raffle. A raffle license cannot be approved retroactively, but can only be approved for raffles occurring subsequent to the date the application is received by the Board. If an application includes sales or drawing dates that are prior to the date the application is received, it will either be denied or approved only from that date forward.
How many raffle reports are required for each month?
For example, suppose a committee obtains a license to conduct 12 raffles – one at each of their monthly meetings. If tickets will be sold for each individual drawing each month the committee would be required to file 12 Raffle Reports – one for each monthly drawing. On the other hand, if the committee conducted one round of ticket sales covering all 12 monthly drawings, only one Raffle Report would need to be filed and that report would be due following the completion of the last drawing.
What is included in a raffle report?
A Raffle Report must include the totals of gross receipts, expenses and net proceeds for a given raffle event. It also must include a detailed listing of the distribution of net proceeds from the raffle.
What happens if you are denied a raffle ticket?
In the case of a denied application, the submitting committee will be notified of the reason for the denial and (if applicable) may re-submit the application if time allows. Please be aware that if information listed on the application (such as the committee officers) does not match the Board’s records, the raffle application will be rejected.
How long do raffle committees keep records?
All committee records relating to raffles must be kept for 3 years.
Who licenses raffles?
Raffles shall be licensed by the governing body of the municipality with jurisdiction over the key location or, if no municipality has jurisdiction over the key location, then by the governing body of the county with jurisdiction over the key location.
Who can authorize raffles?
Except for raffles organized by law enforcement agencies and associations that represent law enforcement officials as provided in Section 9 of this Act, the governing body of a municipality may authorize the sale of raffle chances only within the borders of the municipality.
How old do you have to be to participate in a raffle?
participate in the conducting of raffles or chances or poker runs only with the permission of a parent or guardian. A person under the age of 18 years may be within the area where winning chances in a raffle or winning hands or scores in a poker run are being determined only when accompanied by his parent or guardian.
How long is a raffle report overdue?
of its application to conduct a raffle, has not submitted any report or document required to be filed by Article 9 of the Election Code and such report or document is more than 10 days overdue. (d) (1) The conducting of raffles is subject to the following restrictions: (i) The entire net proceeds of any raffle must be.
Who manages a raffle?
employee, or member of the sponsoring organization may manage or participate in the management of the raffle or poker run. No person may receive any remuneration or profit for managing or participating in the management of the raffle or poker run. Sponsoring organizations may contract with third parties who, acting at the direction of and under the supervision of the sponsoring organization, provide bona fide services to the sponsoring organization in connection with the operation of a raffle and may pay reasonable compensation for such services. Such services include the following: (a) advertising, marketing and promotion, (b) legal, (c) procurement of goods, prizes, wares and merchandise for the purpose of operating the raffle, (d) rent, if the premises upon which the raffle will be held is rented, (e) accounting, auditing and bookkeeping, (f) website hosting, (g) mailing and delivery, (h) banking and payment processing, and (i) other services relating to the operation of the raffle.
Can you run a raffle without a license?
raffles or chances or poker runs without having first obtained a license therefor pursuant to this Act.
What is the raffle act?
First, the Raffles Act requires an organization interested in holding a raffle to obtain a license from the local governing body, i .e. the municipality or county in which the organization desires to hold the raffle. 230 ILCS § § 15/2 (a) & 3 (1).
How long do you have to keep raffle records?
230 ILCS § 15/6. The Raffles Act requires the licensed organization to maintain these records for three years. Id. § 15/6 (d).
Is a raffle illegal in Illinois?
However, Illinois law suggests that unless the raffle is licensed and operated in accordance with the Raffles and Poker Runs Act, 230 ILCS § 15/0.01 et seq., (Raffles Act) and applicable local laws, raffles are illegal gambling subject to criminal fines and penalties.
Do you need a raffle license in every state?
Notably, local governing bodies are not required to allow raffles and, as a result, it may not be possible to obtain a raffle license in every location throughout the state. Each local governing body that offers raffle licenses must pass its own local laws permitting raffles and provide a license application for interested organizations.
Can you get a raffle license if you have a felony?
Id. Further, raffle licenses cannot be issued to organizations that employ or otherwise have as an officer or director someone who has been convicted of a felony, has been a professional gambler or gambling promoter, or is not of good moral character. Id. at§§ 15/3 (5) (d) & (e).
Is a raffle legal?
Despite the rules and restrictions, raffles should be and often are enticing to nonprofits in need of operating or program funds. To keep a raffle from becoming a legal liability, though, be sure to review the Raffles Act and applicable local laws.
What is the Raffle Act?
The Raffle Act provides that a local government must enact an ordinance regulating and licensing raffles within its boundaries before a raffle license may be issued to an eligible organization. If no raffle licensing ordinance has been enacted, no organization may legally operate a raffle. The organizations eligible to receive a raffle license, ...
What organizations are eligible for a raffle license?
The organizations eligible to receive a raffle license, include non-profit, religious, charitable, labor, business, fraternal, educational or veterans’ organizations. In addition, the eligible organizations must also have been in operation for five years preceding their application for a raffle license.
How does the Queen's raffle work?
When the drawing commences, the raffle operator will pull a ticket and read aloud the name and number. The operator will then open the corresponding numbered envelope and reveal whether that lucky person has picked the Queen and won the raffle. In the unfortunate event the box does not contain the Queen, the prize money collected up until that drawing is rolled over to the next week, and the frenzy begins anew. The number selected will be ineligible to be picked for the remainder of the raffle and as such, the numbers available will decrease each week. Therefore, as the prize value rolls over and grows each week so too does the hype and love for these raffles. The allure of the increasing prize value each week persuades more hopefuls to purchase tickets and take a chance at picking the Queen.
Is a raffle illegal in Illinois?
Without enacting a raffle licensing ordinance and setting a maximum prize value, any raffle conducted by a non-profit organization may be considered illegal. The need for a raffle licensing ordinance was recently played out in Morris, Illinois, when their own Queen of Hearts Raffle was hindered because no such ordinance existed.
Does a non profit have to comply with the Raffle Act?
As such, establishing this prize limit not only allows a local government to comply with the Raffle Act, but also ensures that the non-profit’s raffle license will not risk suspension or revocation or the integrity of the raffle, so long as that non-profit adheres to the prize value limitations.
Can non-profits protect raffles?
The adage famously alludes to the inherent risk of falling in love with a new sensation, but local governments and non-profit organizations can protect their hearts and their raffles from this new sensation by following the requirements found within the Raffle Act.
Can you get a refund from a raffle ticket?
If such a bond or similar insurance policy exists, ticket purchasers could seek a refund through that policy or perhaps the non-profit directly. However, if no such ordinance exists, the Raffle Act provides that the State may charge any person in violation of the Act with a Class C misdemeanor.
Which states prohibit online raffles?
Due to this regulation, Eventgroove Fundraising is unable to serve organizations in Iowa for raffles. Kansas – Online raffles prohibited. Kentucky. Louisiana.
Can you raffle on Eventgroove?
Raffles to benefit personal causes are not allowed on Eventgroove Fundraising under any circumstances. The organization running the fundraiser is regulated by its state and in some cases, local laws, and therefore is fully responsible for the organization’s complete legal compliance.
Is a raffle ticket legal?
Fundraising with Raffle Tickets is legal and effective for most types of nonprofit organizations. However, care must be taken to ensure that the raffle is conducted in accordance with all applicable raffle laws and regulations.
Is a raffle a chance?
Raffle Ticket Drawings are considered a Game of Chance, similar to Lottery Tickets and Bingo Games, and as such the laws that regulate raffles are administered by state and county governments in the United States.
How to renew a charitable game license in Illinois?
qualifying organizations must file Form RCG-1, Charitable Games Application for License, either electronically through MyTax.illinois.gov or by mail. You must also complete Forms RCG-2, List of Charitable Games Workers, and RCG-10, Diagram of Charitable Games Event Playing Area. If renewing, complete Form RCG-25, Expenditure of Funds Earned Through Charitable Games. Keep these forms in your records and make them available to us when we request them. After you have filed Form RCG-1 and you need to add or revise a scheduled event, you must complete Form RCG-1-E, Charitable Games, Bingo, or Pull Tabs Events Updates, 30 days before the event. Mail your completed information to the address on the form.
How many charitable games can a licensed organization hold?
A licensed organization may hold up to four charitable game events per year. For a group to be eligible to conduct charitable games, it must. be a religious, charitable, educational, veterans’, fraternal, or labor organization;
How often do you pay for a charity game license?
Annual license fees are imposed on suppliers and providers of such games. Operators must pay a license fee every two years.
How much does a charitable gaming license cost?
Organizations conducting charitable games are required to pay a $400 license fee. Licenses are valid for two years. Suppliers of gaming equipment are required to purchase an annual license for $500 or $1,500 for three years.
