Running a raffle for your charity or community group? Understanding UK licensing requirements doesn’t have to be complicated. This guide breaks down exactly when you need a licence and when you don’t, so you can fundraise with confidence.
In This Guide
Key Takeaways
- Most small charity raffles don’t need a licence if they meet certain conditions
- Private raffles (members only) are always licence-free
- Regular public raffles for charitable purposes require small society lottery registration (up to £20,000/draw and £250,000/year)
- Small Society Lottery registration is required for ongoing public raffles
- Incidental lotteries at events are usually exempt from licensing
- Participants must be 16 or over to buy tickets and claim prizes
Types of Raffles in the UK
UK law recognises several types of raffles, each with different rules. Understanding which category your raffle falls into is the first step to knowing your licensing requirements. Do I need a licence for school raffle? The answer depends on which type applies to your situation.
| Raffle Type | Description | Licence Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Private Raffle | Only for members of a society/club | No |
| Incidental Lottery | Drawn at an event (fete, fair) | Usually no |
| Small Society Lottery | Regular public raffles | Often yes |
| Local Authority Lottery | Run by councils | Yes |
When You Need a Licence
The good news is that many charity and school raffles don’t need licensing. However, you’ll need Small Society Lottery registration if your raffle meets any of these criteria:
- You’re selling tickets to the general public (not just members) on a regular basis for charitable purposes
- The draw happens away from the event where tickets were sold
- You want to sell tickets online to the general public
- Your organisation runs multiple public raffles throughout the year
Small society lotteries can have ticket sales up to £20,000 per draw and £250,000 per year, with individual prizes up to £25,000. If you exceed these limits, you’ll need a Gambling Commission licence for a large society lottery instead.
Important
Small society registration is about the nature of your raffle (regular public charitable fundraising) rather than specific monetary thresholds. Remember, only people aged 16 and over can purchase raffle tickets or claim prizes, regardless of licensing requirements.
Raffles That Don’t Need Licences
Many fundraising raffles fall into exempt categories, making them perfect for charities and schools wanting to avoid licensing complications. PTA raffle licensing UK requirements are often minimal for these types.
Private Raffles
If you’re only selling tickets to members of your organisation (PTA members, club members, etc.), you don’t need a licence regardless of prize value. This makes school raffles particularly straightforward when limited to the school community. For comprehensive guidance on licence-free options, see our guide on how to run a raffle without a licence in the UK.
Incidental Lotteries
Raffles drawn at events like summer fairs or Christmas fairs are usually exempt if:
- Tickets are sold and drawn at the same event
- All proceeds (after prizes and expenses) go to charity
- No more than £500 of the proceeds is spent on prizes
- All participants are aged 16 or over
How to Get a Licence
If your raffle does need licensing, the process is relatively straightforward through your local authority.
Ready to Run Your Compliant Raffle?
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