A summary of key California regulations about raffles:
- 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.
- You cannot sell raffle tickets on the internet (though you can use the internet to tell people where to buy them)
- 90% of what the raffle takes in must be given to the nonprofit. Only 10% can be paid out in prizes. (Exception: nonprofits that are official arms of major sports league teams are allowed to hold 50/50 raffles where 50% of the proceeds can be given out in prizes and only 50% has to be used by the nonprofit.)
For more information on California regulations governing raffles, visit the State Attorney General’s website.
