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A team meets in a bright conference room to discuss what they need to run a raffle.

Things You Need to Run a Raffle (Before Selling Tickets)

Running a raffle isn’t complicated—but doing it properly takes a bit of planning. For charities, non-profits, and religious organizations, raffles are one of the easiest and most effective ways to raise funds while engaging your community.

Before you sell your first ticket, there are a few critical pieces you’ll want to have in place. From legal requirements to payment processing, this guide walks you through everything you need to run a raffle with confidence.

What Do You Need to Run a Raffle?

Raffle regulations exist to protect participants, ensure fair draws, and guarantee funds are used for their intended charitable purpose. To run a raffle legally and successfully, organizations need to complete a few key steps before selling tickets:

  • Proper licensing and regulatory approval
  • Clearly defined prizes
  • A raffle ticket sales plan and pricing strategy
  • A secure payment processing system
  • Record-keeping processes for compliance
  • A marketing and promotion plan

Why Run a Raffle?

Raffles are a great way for organizations to host fun, engaging fundraisers that get people excited about the chance to win great prizes. The idea of a raffle is simple: People buy tickets for the chance to win a prize.

That can be a cash prize where a lump sum is up for grabs, or a non-cash prize, where the winner gets something special. There are also 50/50 raffles, where the winner takes home half of the money that’s raised from ticket sales.

Raffles are easy to run, generate significant revenue, and can get people excited about supporting your organization’s work.

Two fundraising team members go through a checklist of what they need before selling raffle tickets.

Checklist: What You Need Before Selling Raffle Tickets

1. Legal Readiness

Do you need a license to run a raffle? In Canada and the United States, raffles are regulated at the provincial or state level, and rules vary by jurisdiction. Most regions restrict raffles to registered charities, non-profits, and religious organizations.

While this may sound intimidating, raffle licensing is generally straightforward when you follow the correct steps. It is important, though, that you understand the legal requirements for hosting a raffle.

There are a few key things to keep in mind:

  • In most jurisdictions in Canada and the U.S., only charities, non-profits, and religious organizations are permitted to host raffles.
  • Most regions require approval from a gaming commission or state/provincial authority.
  • Some U.S. states place caps on prize values, while provinces often have rules on prize values and how they relate to potential ticket sales.
  • You will generally be required to file detailed financial details after your raffle is complete, so be sure to keep records and receipts.

2. Line Up Prizes

Whatever your budget, securing prizes that will motivate people to buy tickets to your raffle is often a key driver in your raffle’s success. Seasonal prizes are extremely popular, but your prizes should reflect your budget and should take into account how much you’re likely to bring in from ticket sales.

It’s also worth remembering that there are likely opportunities in your community to secure donations. Business owners can be generous and supportive of your cause, providing your organization with amazing prizes that won’t break the bank. That, in turn, ensures you a higher profit.

If you’re looking for prize donations, here are a few things you can do beforehand:

  • Research the business: It helps to know about who you’ll be speaking to and what might be reasonable to request. Knowing the business owner’s name is a good start, and if you can find any information about past causes they’ve supported, that can give you confidence that they’re interested in charitable giving.
  • Introduce Yourself: Whether you stop in at a business in person, send an e-mail, or make a phone call, introducing yourself can work wonders. It provides a personal touch and connection that can make people more likely to make donations.

Have Thank-You Cards Ready

If businesses donate items as prizes for your raffle, make sure you take time to let them know their generosity is appreciated. Sending a thank-you card, physical or digital, is a small gesture that doesn’t take much time, but it doesn’t go unnoticed and can help you secure future donations when you decide it’s time to run a raffle again.

3. Online Setup

When you run a raffle, you’ll want to make sure your landing page is set up and is ready for anyone who visits it. Raffle Rocket lets you customize your raffle page, add images showcasing your organization and available prizes, and set start and end times for ticket sales.

If you’re planning to promote your raffle via social media or e-mail, do one last round of editing to ensure your messaging is clear and there are no mistakes.

4. Revenue Goals

It’s important to set realistic goals for the revenue your organization will generate from its raffle. It can inform what prizes you offer, so using our prize planning template is a good idea and may even help you decide whether to host a 50/50 draw, a cash prize, or a non-cash prize raffle. 

Once you’ve set your revenue goals, you can develop a strategy to hit them. Selling more tickets and raising more money is the goal here, and there are a few key things you can do to get there.

  • Pick the right ticket price
  • Get the word out on social media
  • Connect with your community
  • Include early-bird prizes
  • Bundled pricing

5. Set Up Payment Plan

How are you actually going to process payments when you sell tickets? It’s an important consideration when you run a raffle, but fortunately, using an online platform like Raffle Rocket makes it as easy as can be, even if you’re accepting cash payments for tickets sold offline, too.

Raffle Rocket manages its payments through Stripe Connect, which allows anyone buying tickets to pay with:

  • All major credit cards
  • Canadian pre-authorized debit cards
  • ACH Direct Debit
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay

Getting set up with Strip Connect when you run a raffle is as simple as navigating to the Banking tab on your Raffle Rocket dashboard and following the instructions from there. You’ll be asked for some basic banking details and information about your raffle, but it’s a simple step-by-step process.

Choosing a Platform to Run Your Raffle

Running a raffle manually can create challenges around payment processing, compliance, and reporting. Online raffle platforms like Raffle Rocket help organizations:

  • Accept secure online payments
  • Track ticket sales and revenue
  • Manage compliance requirements
  • Create branded raffle pages

Ready to Run Your Raffle with Confidence?

Running a raffle doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to be done right. By securing the proper licensing, lining up motivating prizes, setting realistic revenue goals, and using a secure payment platform, your organization can run a raffle that’s compliant, profitable, and easy to manage.

With the right preparation, running a raffle can be one of the most efficient and rewarding fundraisers your organization hosts.

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FAQ

Do I need a license to run a raffle?

Yes, you need a license to run a raffle in every Canadian province and most U.S. states. There are strict rules for who is allowed to run a raffle, and you’ll be required to present your license with Raffle Rocket before you can get started.

How much should I charge for a raffle ticket?

This depends on the prizes available, your fundraising goals, and how many tickets you realistically expect to sell. It’s important to get your ticket pricing strategy right.

Is running an online raffle legal?

Yes, running an online raffle can be legal, but only if your organization is properly licensed and your jurisdiction allows online ticket sales. In Canada and the U.S., raffle rules are set at the provincial or state level, and some regions require additional approval to sell tickets online. Always confirm that your raffle license specifically permits online sales before launching.

Can I sell raffle tickets online?

In many jurisdictions, yes—you can sell raffle tickets online if your raffle license allows it. Some provinces and states restrict online ticket sales or require raffles to use approved digital platforms. Using a secure, compliant raffle platform helps ensure payments, reporting, and ticket sales meet regulatory requirements.

What records do I need to keep after a raffle?

After a raffle, most licensing authorities require organizations to keep detailed records, including but not limited to:

  • Total number of tickets sold
  • Ticket prices and total revenue
  • Prize values and winner information
  • Expenses related to the raffle
  • Net proceeds raised

These records are typically submitted in a post-raffle financial report and must be retained in case of an audit. Always check with your local gaming authority to confirm what exactly is required as it will vary by state or province.

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