Fundraising Directory

Raffle Rules Western Australia

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 Western Australian 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, to 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 Western Australia.

A note of caution: this article is intended only as general raffle guidelines for Western Australian Raffles. 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: Western Australian Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries

• ‘Standard Lottery’ Information kit – Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia
• Apply for your permit here: https://portal.rgl.wa.gov.au/
• 08 9425 1888 or 1800 634 541
• rgl@rgl.wa.gov.au

Key Features of Western Australian Raffle Rules:

• • Permits are required where an organisation intends to sell raffle tickets to the public for more than one day.
  • Raffles, where the aggregate value of prizes do not exceed $200, are exempt.
  • An application fee applies to permits and the application must be lodged online at least 14 days before the tickets go on sale. Apply for a permit here.
  • Where the total prize value is $20,000 or over, your organisation must provide a bank guarantee or security deposit.
  • A consent letter from the school principal may be required.
  • The fees for a 7-day permit (as at the time of writing) are:
    • Where the total retail prize does not exceed $5,000 – $34
    • Otherwise – $75
  • The fees for a 3-month permit (as at the time of writing) are:
    • Up to $5,000 – $48
    • More than $5,000, but not more than $50,000 – $115
    • More than $50,000, but not more than $100,000 – $224
    • More than $100,000, but not more than $200,000 – $462
    • More than $200,000 – $709
  • Each ticket must display the following information:
    • permit number;
    • price of ticket;
    • description and value of prizes;
    • ticket number name and contact number of permit holder;
    • name of organisation;
    • closing date of ticket sales, and drawing date; and
    • name/date of newspaper in which results will appear.

• • Children under 12 years of age are not permitted to sell or purchase raffle tickets in WA. Where liquor is offered as a prize, persons under 18 years of age are prohibited from selling or purchasing tickets.

Further information:

• ‘Standard Lottery’ Information kit – Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia
• Apply for your permit here: https://portal.rgl.wa.gov.au/
• 08 9425 1888 or 1800 634 541
• rgl@rgl.wa.gov.au