Raffles

In California, charities and certain other private nonprofit organizations may conduct raffles to raise funds for beneficial or charitable purposes in the state.

This exception to the general constitutional prohibition against lotteries requires that at least 90 percent of the gross receipts from these raffles go directly to beneficial or charitable purposes in California.

Unless specifically exempted, a nonprofit organization must register with the Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts prior to conducting the raffle and file financial disclosure reports on each raffle event. Forms for registering and reporting activities are provided on this web page.

Using the Registry’s new search feature, you can now view information regarding raffles held by nonprofits in California. The information available includes registration and raffle report data (such as the amount of money collected), and dates on which a charity intends to hold a raffle. To look at information regarding raffles use the new search feature.

What organizations qualify and how the raffles must be conducted are governed by Penal Code section 320.5, which was added by Senate Bill 639 (McPherson, Chapter 778, Stats. of 2000). For details, view the Frequently Asked Questions, Statutes and Regulations.

A review of charitable lottery activity in California is available in the publication Nonprofit Raffle Program Report to the Legislature.

Raffles FAQS

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Raffles

Laws/Regulations

• Penal Code Section 320.5. Charitable Raffles, pdf
• Nonprofit Raffle Program Regulations - Title 11, Division 1, Chapter 4.6, sections 410-426, pdf

Forms

PLEASE NOTE: The registration period for conducting raffles is September 1 through August 31 annually. Registration must be completed prior to conducting a raffle. An organization must file the raffle registration form at least 60 days before the scheduled date of the raffle in order to give Registry staff sufficient time to process the form. The Registry does not confirm receipt of raffle registration forms. An organization that wants confirmation that the Registry has received a form must submit the form to the Registry by requesting "certified receipt," a service available at the U.S. Post Office.

• Online Raffle Registration Renewal
  Nonprofit organizations that want to conduct raffles can now use the Registry’s online filing tool to renew an existing raffle registration. In order to use the online filing tool, the nonprofit must have a previous raffle registration in the Registry database that was valid within the last year. To verify that an organization can use the online tool for renewal of an existing raffle registration, go to the Login page and follow the instructions.
• Nonprofit Raffle Registration Form - CT-NRP-1, pdf
  Each nonprofit organization that intends to conduct a raffle during a year (September 1 through August 31) must complete and submit a raffle registration form.
• Nonprofit Raffle Report - CT-NRP-2, pdf
  A nonprofit organization that has registered to conduct a raffle must file a separate nonprofit raffle report for each raffle held during the year (September 1 through August 31).