Raffle Ticket Pricing

The price of a raffle ticket affects total revenue, the number of tickets sold, and — for small society lotteries — legal compliance. The Gambling Act 2005 requires all tickets in a small society lottery to be sold at the same price. This uniform pricing rule prohibits bundle discounts, early-bird offers, and multi-buy deals for registered lotteries. Incidental lotteries are not subject to this restriction.

Common UK Price Points

Raffle ticket prices in the UK cluster around a small number of standard price points. The table below shows the most common options and where each is typically used.

The £1 price point accounts for the majority of community raffle tickets sold in the UK. It is a low barrier to entry, encourages multiple purchases, and simplifies cash handling for sellers.

The Uniform Pricing Requirement

For small society lotteries and large society lotteries, every ticket must be sold at the same price. This is a statutory requirement under the Gambling Act 2005, not a guideline.

The practical consequence is that bundle pricing — "£1 each or 5 for £3" — is not permitted. If the face price of a ticket is £1, every ticket must be sold for £1. A strip of five tickets costs £5, not a discounted rate.

This rule exists because the Act requires equal treatment of all ticket holders. A ticket purchased for 60p (as part of a discounted bundle) and a ticket purchased for £1 have different costs to the buyer but identical chances of winning — which the legislation treats as inequitable.

Incidental lotteries are exempt from this rule. At event-based raffles where no registration or licence is required, organisers may offer variable pricing, bundle discounts, and multi-buy incentives. "£1 each or a strip of 5 for £3" is fully compliant at a school fair raffle operating as an incidental lottery.

This distinction matters for pricing strategy. Societies planning an incidental lottery at an event have more flexibility than those running a registered small society lottery with advance sales.

Pricing by Audience and Event Format

The appropriate price point depends on the audience, the event format, and the prizes.

School and PTA events

Most school raffles price tickets between 50p and £1. The audience is predominantly parents and family members, many of whom will buy multiple tickets. At a school fair, a 50p ticket with a "strip of 5 for £2" offer (permitted for incidental lotteries) maximises volume. For a PTA Christmas raffle sold in advance as a small society lottery, £1 per ticket is the standard.

Charity galas and dinners

Charity galas and formal dinners typically price tickets at £5–£10, reflecting higher prize values and a different audience profile.

Pub and club events

Pub raffles and club draws typically price tickets at £1–£2. The audience is regular and familiar with the format. At this price, most buyers purchase two to five tickets. Match-day 50/50 draws at sports clubs commonly use a £2 price point.

Community and village events

Village fetes, community centre events, and local festivals typically use £1 tickets or strips of 5 at 50p each (where an incidental lottery format allows bundle pricing). The broad audience means a low price point maximises participation.

Revenue Calculations

The relationship between ticket price, quantity sold, and total revenue is straightforward, but the sell-through rate — the percentage of printed tickets that are actually sold — is the variable that most affects the outcome.

Higher-priced tickets generate more revenue per sale but sell in lower volumes. Lower-priced tickets sell in higher volumes but generate less per transaction. The optimal price depends on the specific audience and the number of available sellers.

For small society lotteries, the gross revenue figure is the "proceeds" figure reported on the lottery return. At least 20% of this amount must go to the society's purposes after deducting prizes and expenses.

Worked example: school PTA raffle

A PTA with 400 families runs a Christmas raffle as a small society lottery.

In this example, the lower price point generates more total revenue despite the same prize and expense costs, because the lower barrier to entry produces a higher sell-through rate. This pattern is common for school and community audiences where disposable income is mixed. For higher-income audiences at formal events, the relationship reverses — a higher price with a higher sell-through rate can outperform.

Setting the Price

The pricing decision follows from the fundraising target, the expected audience, and the raffle type.

Start with the target. If the society needs to raise £2,000 net and expects £400 in prizes and £150 in expenses, it needs £2,550 in gross ticket sales. At £1 per ticket with a 65% sell-through, that requires printing approximately 3,900 tickets (3,900 × 0.65 = 2,535 sold).

Consider the audience. The price must be affordable enough that the target sell-through rate is realistic. A £5 ticket at a village fete will sell far fewer than a £1 ticket at the same event. Match the price to what the audience will comfortably pay — and what similar events in the area have charged.

Check the legal position. If the raffle is a small society lottery, the uniform pricing rule applies and bundle deals are not an option. If it is an incidental lottery, bundle pricing can be used to set an effective per-ticket price lower than the face value.

For guidance on how many tickets to order at the chosen price, see Ticket Quantities.

Questions about ticket pricing? See our help centre.

Last reviewed: February 2026