Raffle Rules Tasmania

Raffles are a time honoured and popular way to raise funds for your favourite cause. The regulations can be a bit of a minefield and vary so much State-to-State. No wonder you are wondering what the Tasmanian raffle rules are!

A raffle could be loosely defined as any game of chance where there is a limited number of tickets sold, and where each ticket has the same chance of winning as every other ticket sold. But as you know, there are a million and one ways to go about a raffle. From parking a wheelbarrow full of goodies outside the local shops to raffling off fancy houses on the Gold Coast, to a good old Friday night chook raffle or meat tray draw at the pub (yes, chook raffles are still alive and well).

In fact, you could be forgiven for thinking that the only limits on running a raffle are the number of helpers you can rope in, and your imagination. But you would be wrong.

Raffles are classified by all Australian States and Territories as ‘gaming’ and, alongside casinos and licensed clubs, raffles are subject to regulation designed to protect the consumer, and the people conducting the gaming. The maze of legislation and regulation which surrounds raffles can be very daunting to the small community-based fundraiser (or, for that matter, us!), and I would not be surprised if some raffles had been abandoned in the face of it.

As the best way to avoid accidentally breaking gaming laws is to be informed, we thought it would be useful to assemble a quick-reference guide to raffle regulations in Tasmania.

A note of caution: this article is intended only as a general guide. Whilst the information provided is correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of publication, we strongly advise anyone who is planning to conduct a raffle to seek the advice of the regulating authority below.

Regulating Agency: Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission

treasury.tas.gov.au | Raffle Rules and Conditions
(03) 6166 4040
gaming@treasury.tas.gov.au

Key Features of Raffle Laws in Tasmania:

A raffle permit is only required in Tasmania where the prize value exceeds $5,000. Where prize value exceeds $5,000, the organisation must apply for a Minor Gaming Permit from the Commission. You can apply here with the background information available here.
For raffles that do not require a permit, the total retail prize value must equal at least 20% of total raffle income from ticket sales. For example, if the prize is valued at $200, no more than $1,000 can be made in ticket sales.
Prizes may be in cash, however, total cash prizes may not exceed $5,000.
Children under the age of 13 must not sell tickets in any raffle.
Children under the age of 16 must not sell tickets in raffles in which the total retail value of prizes is more

than $500.
Tickets in a raffle may only be purchased by individual persons who are aged 18 years or older.
Raffle ticket butts must be drawn from a barrel or other large suitable container. There must be sufficient room in the barrel or container for the butts to be mixed freely. No other form of selecting prize winners, including electronic draw methods, may be used without prior approval from the Commission
There are strict requirements for what must be printed on tickets where a raffle permit is required. More detail, as well as an example ticket, is available here.
Tickets shouldn’t be distributed without permission, but informal advice from the agency is that this relates more to charities and would be overlooked for schools if they made clear that tickets could be sent home unsold.
Bundling of tickets (eg $2 or 3 for $5) is only available where the retail value of a prize is less than $1,000.