Running a raffle without a licence is possible in the UK, but it’s essential to understand the rules. This comprehensive guide explains the four types of licence-free raffles you can run legally, including incidental lotteries, work raffles, customer raffles, and private society raffles.
In This Guide
Key Takeaways: 4 Legal Raffles Without Permits
- Incidental Lottery: Event-only sales, unlimited prizes, perfect for summer fairs and Christmas events
- Customer Raffle: Business premises only, £50 prize limit, for customer promotions
- Work Raffle: Single workplace only, £50 prize limit, great for office fundraising
- Private Society Raffle: Club/society members only, £50 prize limit, funds can support organisation
Overview of UK Raffle Laws 2026
Raffles are a popular way of raising money for charity or other good causes in the UK, but certain legal requirements need to be met. Understanding UK raffle laws is crucial for running legal raffles without licence complications. Depending on the raffle and who is taking part, you may have to obtain a licence or contact your council for more information.
However, there are four types of raffles or lotteries that you can hold without a licence or contacting your council. Each type has specific rules and guidelines that must be adhered to under the Gambling Act 2005 as regulated by the Gambling Commission, making them perfect licence-free lottery UK options for various fundraising needs.
Important Legal Notice
While these raffles don’t require licences, they still have strict rules. Always check with the Gambling Commission if you’re unsure about any requirements for your specific situation.
How to Run an Incidental Lottery
The Gambling Commission states that “An incidental lottery can take place alongside a commercial or non-commercial event. The lottery cannot be the main reason for holding the event.” Perfect examples include summer fairs, Christmas fayres, or village fetes.
You can set up a stall and sell raffle tickets, but only to people attending the event. The draw must also take place at the event. The proceeds must be for good causes or charity and cannot be for private gain.
Key Rules for Incidental Lotteries
- Tickets can only be sold at the event
- Draw must happen at the event
- Physical tickets are required
- No minimum or maximum ticket price
- Can offer bulk discounts
- No prize value limits
There are no legal requirements for what needs to be printed on the ticket, however, a physical ticket is a requirement for participants. You cannot sell tickets online or before the event takes place.
How to Run a Customer Raffle
Customer raffles are designed for businesses wanting to reward their customers. These raffles have specific restrictions to ensure they remain promotional rather than gambling activities.
Essential Requirements
The raffle can only take place at your physical premises and cannot be done online or sent out by text message or email. This includes any form of advertising about the raffle, which can only be done at one single set of premises.
Your raffle tickets must include:
- Name and address of the organiser
- Ticket price
- Any purchase restrictions
- Statement that rights are non-transferable
You can only sell raffle tickets to people sixteen years or older who are on your premises for business purposes. Any physical prizes should be under £50 in value, or you can offer services as a prize. You cannot make a profit from this type of raffle as all proceeds must either be used to pay for prizes or running costs.
How to Run a Work Raffle
Work raffles are similar to customer raffles but specifically for colleagues in the same workplace. These are popular for office fundraising activities and team events.
You can’t run a raffle across multiple sites. Tickets cannot be sold online, via email, or over the telephone. The draw may only take place on your business’s premises and not online.
Work Raffle Restrictions
- All participants must pay the same amount
- Rights are non-transferable
- Participants must be 16+ and work at the same location
- Prizes limited to £50 each (or services)
- All proceeds go to prizes or running costs
Every participant must pay the same amount for their ticket, and the rights created by it are non-transferable. There are no specific requirements for what needs to be printed on the ticket, but unique numbering helps with organisation.
How to Run a Private Society Raffle
A private society raffle is for members of clubs, societies, or organisations. This could be a sports club, community group, or any other type of organisation, as long as they haven’t been created or run for gambling purposes.
Similar to work raffles, you can’t sell tickets online, via email, or telephone. The draw can only take place on your private society’s premises. School fundraising raffles often fall into this category when run for parent associations or student groups.
Society Raffle Benefits
Unlike work or customer raffles, proceeds from private society raffles can be used to raise money for your club or organisation, as long as the money is spent on a relevant cause.
Prizes can be distributed up to the value of £50 each, or services can be offered instead. All proceeds from the raffle can be used to raise money for your club, group, or organisation, as long as the money is spent on a relevant cause.
Choosing the Right Raffle Type
Is this for a one-off event?
Yes: Consider an Incidental Lottery (unlimited prizes, event-only sales)
No: Move to step 2
Who are your participants?
Customers at your business: Choose Customer Raffle
Work colleagues: Choose Work Raffle
Club/society members: Choose Private Society Raffle
Do you need advance ticket sales?
Yes: You’ll need Small Society Lottery registration
No: Your chosen licence-free raffle will work perfectly
Common Mistakes and Legal Raffle Requirements Penalties
Even licence-free raffles can lead to legal issues if rules aren’t followed correctly. Understanding common mistakes helps ensure your raffle stays compliant with UK raffle laws 2026. Proper compliance and fair practices are essential – our guide on how to draw a raffle fairly provides comprehensive advice for maintaining transparency and compliance.
Most Common Compliance Mistakes
- Selling tickets before the event (incidental lotteries)
- Advertising across multiple locations (work/customer raffles)
- Offering prizes over £50 value (except incidental lotteries)
- Making personal profit from proceeds
- Selling to under-16s
- Using electronic tickets instead of physical ones
Potential Penalties
Running an unlicensed lottery when you should have a licence can result in prosecution by the Gambling Commission. Penalties can include unlimited fines and up to 51 weeks imprisonment for serious breaches under the Gambling Act 2005.
What Happens If Rules Are Accidentally Broken?
If you accidentally breach raffle rules, the consequences depend on the severity and whether it was genuinely accidental. Minor infractions may result in warnings, but repeated or serious breaches can lead to prosecution.
The best approach is to stop the raffle immediately if you realise you’ve made an error, seek advice from the Gambling Commission, and keep detailed records of your actions to demonstrate good faith.
Legal Raffle Requirements Comparison
| Raffle Type | Licence Required | Where to Sell | Max Prize Value | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incidental Lottery | None | At event only | Unlimited | Fetes, fairs, events |
| Customer Raffle | None | Business premises | £50 per prize | Customer promotions |
| Work Raffle | None | Workplace only | £50 per prize | Office fundraising |
| Private Society | None | Society premises | £50 per prize | Club fundraising |
Perfect for Licence-Free Raffles
- One-off events and fairs
- Small workplace collections
- Club social events
- Customer appreciation
- Quick fundraising activities
When You’ll Need a Licence
- Advance ticket sales
- Online ticket sales
- Prizes over £50 (except incidental)
- Regular ongoing raffles
- Multiple location sales
Professional Raffle Tickets for Compliance
Professional numbered tickets are essential for compliance with all licence-free raffle requirements. Our high-quality raffle tickets ensure your event meets legal standards while looking trustworthy and professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started With Your Licence-Free Raffle
Running raffles in the UK is a great option for businesses, private societies, and workplaces to raise money for their cause or event. Understanding which type of licence-free raffle suits your needs will help ensure you stay compliant while maximising your fundraising potential.
Remember that while these raffles don’t require licences, they still have specific rules. For larger fundraising ambitions or if you need to sell more raffle tickets with advance sales, consider exploring Small Society Lottery registration for greater flexibility.