Hosting a Raffle On-Line?

seismicryan

I wander if this is possible and if anyone has any experience or ideas..

I want to run a raffle to raise some money for an organisation I am involved with, however to maximise the number of people who may wish to enter, I was thinking of running it online and allowing people to enter using paypal...

I think this will allow me to reach more people as I can put the raffle up on my facebook page etc..

I am not sur ehow exactly I can do it online though? I guess I can ask people to select their number out of those available, or just asign a number based on the order they entered..

Is there any tools I can use?

Any suggestions appreciated!

Ryan

paddyrg

Nonononono I don't think so, not without a gaming license.

seismicryan

Ha yeh I read all the rules about "gambline" and running raffles before.. is it really that stringent??

bris

No you can't, it's complicated, but the just of it is you are not allowed to charge for tickets and there has to be an element of skill involved.

seismicryan

bris wrote: »

No you can't, it's complicated, but the just of it is you are not allowed to charge for tickets and there has to be an element of skill involved.

OK I'm with you... so could you ask a question to be entered into the draw? Or would that still be a no-no if you are charging to enter?

Ryan

Horace

If you are running a raffle online it is then known as a lottery and you will need a gaming licence which you get from the lotteries commission. Before you ask, they really are that stringent.

You would be better off selling tickets at events (using the cloakroom type tickets and drawing the prizes at the event) or asking for direct donations and get some gift aid certificates so that these can be completed by the tax payers making the donation.

I run a raffle at a business club and do this every month, on average I sell around £95 per night (the club only meets once a month) at the end of the year we hand over all the money raised to the charity that we have chosen. Maybe you should contact some business clubs and ask them if a) they support local charities and b) if they do, can your charity be considered.

bris

seismicryan wrote: »

OK I'm with you... so could you ask a question to be entered into the draw? Or would that still be a no-no if you are charging to enter?

Ryan

You can't charge to enter, but do you see all these text questions on telly with the really easy A, B and C answers well thats the way round it. You can make your money from the commision on the text service. The question is the skill element.

seismicryan

Ok, so it seems like selling them online is a no go...

However, is there anything to stop me advertising the raffle online, and then selling the tickets at the event?

Horace

seismicryan wrote: »

Ok, so it seems like selling them online is a no go...

However, is there anything to stop me advertising the raffle online, and then selling the tickets at the event?

I would be inclined to promote the event online as opposed to the raffle on its own although you could mention in your event advertising that there will be a raffle.