How to Run a Raffle in the UK
This is a 25-part reference guide to running a raffle in the UK, covering the Gambling Act 2005, registration and licensing, ticket requirements, compliance, planning, and draw-day logistics. It includes audience-specific guidance for schools, churches, sports clubs, pubs, and workplaces. The guide is written by Stubbs Tickets, which has printed raffle tickets for thousands of UK organisations every year for over 25 years.
Running a raffle this festive season? See our Christmas raffle tickets designs.
Understanding Raffles
What Is a Raffle The three legal elements, how raffles differ from lotteries, tombolas, sweepstakes, and prize draws. Types of Raffles Small society lotteries, incidental lotteries, private lotteries, and prize draws — which one applies to you.Law and Compliance
UK Raffle Law The Gambling Act 2005, regulators, licence and registration requirements, thresholds, and penalties. Incidental Lotteries Event raffles without a licence: exemption conditions, prize and expense limits, and when to register. Small Society Lotteries Registration, rules, thresholds, reporting requirements, and staying compliant with your local authority. Compliance Checklist A before, during, and after checklist for running a legally compliant raffle.Planning
Organising a Raffle Timeline, budget, prizes, tickets, promotion, and the draw — start to finish. Ticket Requirements What must be printed on a raffle ticket under UK law. Numbering, counterfoils, and common mistakes. Raffle Prizes Prize rules, value limits, cash prizes, alcohol prizes, and sourcing donated prizes. How Many Tickets to Order The 2x rule, factors that affect quantity, and worked examples by event type. Ticket Pricing Common price points, uniform pricing rules, multi-buy offers, and revenue worked examples.Running the Raffle
Selling Raffle Tickets Sales channels, advance selling rules, volunteer briefing, and record keeping. The Raffle Draw Draw methods, witnesses, recording results, announcing winners, and handling disputes.After the Raffle
Unclaimed Prizes Deadlines, redraws, returning to the prize fund, and recording obligations. Returns and Reporting How to submit raffle returns to your local authority. What to include, deadlines, and record retention.Raffle Formats
50/50 Raffles How the split-the-pot format works, which raffle type it falls under, and how to calculate the prize pot. Tombola How a tombola differs from a raffle, numbering systems, prize setup, and stall layout. Online Raffles Running a raffle online: registration, what counts as selling online, and compliant alternatives.Audience Guides
School Raffles Governance, safeguarding, selling through book bags, and reporting to parents. Church Raffles Gift Aid, alcohol as prizes, denominational policies, and which lottery type applies. Sports Club Raffles Private vs public lottery, premises licence interactions, matchday draws, and 50/50 formats. Pub Raffles Legal classification, premises licence interactions, and alcohol as prizes. Workplace Raffles Work lottery rules, employer vs employee as promoter, and remote worker considerations.Reference
Raffle Glossary Definitions of common raffle and lottery terms used in UK fundraising and gambling law. Raffle Rules Template A ready-to-use raffle rules template covering terms, eligibility, prize claims, and data handling.
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