Church Raffles

Churches run raffles at harvest festivals, Christmas fairs, summer fetes, and other community events. A church qualifies as a non-commercial society under the Gambling Act 2005, making it eligible to register for a small society lottery with the local authority. However, the legal position of the raffle is only one consideration — denominational policies, Gift Aid rules, and the position of alcohol at church events all affect how a church raffle is structured.

Legal Position

A church — whether Church of England, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, or any other denomination — is a non-commercial society established for charitable purposes. It meets the eligibility criteria for small society lottery registration.

The raffle type depends on the format:

Incidental lottery. A raffle at a church fete, harvest supper, or Christmas fair where tickets are sold and drawn at the event. No registration needed. Standard incidental lottery conditions apply: tickets sold at the event only, draw during the event, £500 maximum prize deduction from proceeds, £100 maximum expenses. This is the most common format for church raffles.

Small society lottery. A planned raffle with tickets sold in advance — after services, through parish newsletters, or at events over several weeks. Registration with the local authority is required (£40 initial fee, £20 annual renewal). The church or its fundraising committee registers as the promoting society. This format applies when the church wants to sell tickets beyond a single event.

Private society lottery. A raffle restricted to church members (the congregation) may qualify as a private lottery. No registration is needed, but tickets can only be sold to members, no external advertising is permitted, and all proceeds must go to prizes or the church's purposes.

Gift Aid and Raffles

Raffle ticket sales cannot be Gift Aided. This is a common misconception, particularly among churches accustomed to claiming Gift Aid on regular donations and offerings.

Gift Aid applies to donations — voluntary payments where the donor receives nothing in return. A raffle ticket is a payment in exchange for the chance to win a prize. It is a transaction, not a donation, and HMRC does not treat it as eligible for Gift Aid regardless of the amount, the purchaser's intentions, or the charitable status of the organiser.

This applies equally to all raffle types and all denominations. A church cannot claim Gift Aid on raffle ticket sales, even if the ticket buyer intends the payment as a charitable contribution.

The practical implication is that raffle proceeds are not enhanced by the 25% Gift Aid uplift. A church raising £1,000 through raffle ticket sales receives £1,000. The same £1,000 raised through Gift Aided donations would be worth £1,250. This difference is relevant when the church is choosing between a raffle and an alternative fundraising method.

Alcohol as Prizes

Alcohol as a raffle prize — bottles of wine in hampers, spirits, champagne — is common at church events. The legal position depends on the licensing status of the event.

At a church fete or fair held on church premises without a premises licence, alcohol may be included in raffle prizes provided it is given as a prize (won in the draw) rather than sold directly. The raffle ticket is a payment for entry into the draw, not a purchase of alcohol. In practice, this distinction is widely accepted and rarely challenged at community-level church events.

If the church event involves the sale of alcohol (a bar at a fundraising dinner, for example), a temporary event notice (TEN) or premises licence is required under the Licensing Act 2003. The raffle itself does not trigger the licensing requirement, but the sale of drinks at the same event may.

Age restrictions apply: no person under 18 may receive an alcohol prize. The raffle terms should specify that an alternative prize will be offered to any winner under 18.

Some churches choose not to include alcohol as prizes for reasons of denominational policy, congregation sensitivity, or personal conviction. This is a pastoral decision, not a legal one.

Denominational Policies

Several denominations and dioceses have specific policies on raffles and gambling that may restrict or modify what the church is permitted to do.

Church of England. The Church of England does not prohibit raffles, but individual dioceses may have guidance on gambling-related fundraising. Some dioceses require the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to approve any lottery before it is run. The PCC would act as the governing body authorising the promoter.

Methodist Church. The Methodist Church has historically expressed reservations about gambling. Some circuits and districts discourage or prohibit raffles at church events. Methodist churches considering a raffle should consult their circuit superintendent or district policy.

Catholic Church. The Catholic Church does not prohibit raffles. Parish fundraising events routinely include raffles, and the parish or a parish fundraising committee can register as a small society lottery.

Baptist and other nonconformist churches. Policies vary by individual church and association. Some hold a principled position against all forms of gambling, including raffles. Others participate freely.

Where a denominational policy restricts raffles, the church may consider a free prize draw as an alternative — free entry removes the gambling element entirely, as it is no longer a lottery under the Gambling Act 2005. The legal and practical considerations of prize draws are covered in Raffle Types.

Who Acts as Promoter

For a church raffle registered as a small society lottery, the promoter must be a named individual authorised by the church's governing body — not the church itself.

In a Church of England parish, the PCC authorises the promoter, who is typically the churchwarden, treasurer, or the chair of the fundraising committee. In other denominations, the equivalent governing body (deacons' meeting, elders' meeting, parish council) authorises the promoter.

The promoter's name and postal address appear on every ticket. The promoter takes personal legal responsibility for the lottery's compliance — ensuring correct ticket printing, lawful sales, and timely submission of the return.

Common Church Raffle Formats

Harvest festival raffle. Donated produce, hampers, and goods from the congregation. Typically an incidental lottery at the harvest supper or festival service. Prizes are donated, keeping costs well within the £500 deduction limit.

Christmas fair raffle. The largest church raffle of the year for most parishes. May be an incidental lottery (sold and drawn at the fair) or a small society lottery (tickets sold after services in the weeks beforehand). Higher-value prizes — hampers, vouchers, donated experiences.

Summer fete raffle. Similar format to the Christmas fair. An incidental lottery at the fete is the standard approach. Often combined with a tombola (a separate incidental lottery at the same event).

Grand draw. A larger-scale raffle with advance ticket sales, typically for a specific fundraising target — a building fund, organ restoration, or community project. Requires small society lottery registration. Tickets sold over several weeks or months, with the draw at a specific event.

Questions about church raffles? See our help centre.

Last reviewed: February 2026