Weekly lotteries
Supporters play every week, often by subscription. Common for hospices and larger charities running society lotteries.
+ Charity lotteries and raffles · Guide
Charity lotteries and raffles.
Charities, hospices and good causes raise serious money through lotteries and raffles, and every country licenses them differently. Here is how charity draws work across the markets we cover.
01 At a glance
Country by country.
- United Kingdom
- Small society lotteries register with the council, up to £20,000 per lottery and £250,000 a year. Larger ones need a Gambling Commission licence.
- Ireland
- Garda permit up to €5,000 a week, or a District Court licence with at least 25% to the cause
- Canada
- Provincial licences, with approved electronic raffle suppliers required in Ontario and Alberta
- Australia
- State rules. NSW art unions over $30,000 need an authority, with at least 30% to the organisation.
- New Zealand
- Class 2 needs no licence. Class 3 is licensed by the DIA and can run online since 2024.
- Malta
- €25 permit per event, stakes up to €5 and at least 90% of net proceeds to the cause
02 The models
Three common formats.
Most charity draws take one of three shapes, each with its own licence conditions.
One-off raffles
A single draw for a headline prize, run around a campaign or event, often under a smaller permit or registration.
50/50 draws
Half the pot goes to the winner and half to the cause. Popular with hospitals and clubs in Canada, run under provincial licences.
+ Know before you run
What charities need to know.
- Licence thresholds depend on prize value, ticket sales or both, and they differ by country, state and province.
- Many regimes set a minimum share for the cause, from a quarter in Ireland's court licences to 90% of net proceeds in Malta.
- Online sales are restricted in places. Some Canadian provinces require approved suppliers, and some US states prohibit online raffles.
- In the UK, anyone managing a society lottery on a charity's behalf must hold a Gambling Commission licence.
- Supporters and regulators increasingly expect to see how winners were chosen, not just who won.
03 Questions
Common questions.
Do charities need a licence to run a lottery?
Almost always, through registration, a permit or a licence, depending on the country and the size of the draw. Small raffles at a single event are often exempt.
Can charity lotteries be run online?
In many places, yes, within licence conditions. New Zealand has allowed licensed class 3 lotteries fully online since 2024, while Ontario and Alberta require approved electronic raffle suppliers.
How much has to go to the good cause?
It varies: at least 25% under Irish court licences, 30% for NSW art unions and 90% of net proceeds for Maltese non-profit games, for example.
How can a charity show its draws are fair?
By using a draw that is fixed before tickets go on sale and published in full afterwards, so supporters and regulators can check every winner themselves.
Sources
- Licences for small society lotteries, Gambling Commission
- Commencement of the Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Act 2019, gov.ie
- Electronic raffles, AGCO
- Art unions, NSW Government
- Class 3 lottery licence rule changes, DIA
- Non-profit tombolas and lotteries, MGA
General information, not legal advice. Rules change and depend on exactly how a draw is run, so take advice for your own model. Reviewed September 2026.
04 Access
Raising funds with draws? Talk to us.
Every Blockdraws draw is sealed before tickets go on sale and verifiable by anyone, so supporters can see exactly how every winner was chosen.
Blockdraws is white-label draw software with every draw verifiable by anyone. Available by application.
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