{"id":2918,"date":"2026-07-07T04:51:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T17:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oktion.com.au\/organisers\/?p=2918"},"modified":"2026-07-08T10:33:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T23:33:43","slug":"a-state-by-state-guide-to-australian-raffle-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oktion.com.au\/organisers\/a-state-by-state-guide-to-australian-raffle-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"A State-by-State Guide to Australian Raffle Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"

Picture this: Your fundraising campaign is live, ticket sales are rolling in through your digital platform, and your team is celebrating. Then, a notification hits your dashboard. A supporter from Western Australia just bought a ticket, but your raffle software doesn\u2019t account for WA’s strict multi-day permit laws. Suddenly, you have to issue a refund, manage a frustrated user, and audit your compliance settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because raffle and lottery laws are governed at the state and territory level\u2014rather than nationally\u2014navigating the rules can feel like a minefield. What is completely exempt from licensing in Sydney could be illegal without a formal permit in Perth.<\/span><\/p>\n

To help you stay compliant, we\u2019ve put together a practical state-by-state overview of Australian raffle rules \u2014 with links to the relevant regulators for running a legal raffle in every corner of Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Golden Rule: The “Where” Matters Most<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you are running an online raffle or marketing your campaign across borders, <\/span>you must comply with the laws of every state where tickets are sold<\/b>, not just where your organization is registered. If a state requires a permit for your prize value, you must obtain it before opening ticket sales to residents of that state.<\/span><\/p>\n

State-by-State Raffle Rules Breakdown<\/b><\/h2>\n

1. Western Australia (WA)<\/b><\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Regulatory Body:<\/b> Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety <\/span><\/li>\n
  • The Trap:<\/b> WA is notoriously strict with digital or most multi-day campaigns. Unlike other states where exemptions are based strictly on minor prize pools, WA requires a <\/span>Standard Lottery Permit<\/b> for almost <\/span>all<\/span><\/i> multi-day raffles.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Permit Exemptions:<\/b> Only allowed for same-day, same-premises lotteries (prizes up to $2,000) or private lotteries (internal club\/workplace members).<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Key Law to Know:<\/b> If your prize pool hits <\/span>$30,000 or more<\/b>, WA requires you to provide a bank guarantee or security deposit for the full retail value of the prizes before issuing a permit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    2. New South Wales (NSW)<\/b><\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Regulatory Body:<\/b> NSW Fair Trading<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Permit Threshold:<\/b> No permit is required for standard community raffles if the total prize value is <\/span>$30,000 or less<\/b>. If your prize exceeds $30,000, you must apply for a Community Gaming Authority.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Key Law to Know:<\/b> NSW mandates a “proceeds rule”\u2014total prize value for one session must be at least 50% of gross proceeds, and the benefiting organization must achieve at least a <\/span>40% of gross proceeds <\/b>from the raffle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      3. Victoria (VIC)<\/b><\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Regulatory Body:<\/b> Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC)<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Permit Threshold:<\/b> No permit is required if the total prize value is <\/span>$20,000 or less<\/b> (this threshold is indexed annually to CPI). Anything over this amount requires a <\/span>minor gaming permit \/ raffle permit<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Key Law to Know:<\/b> If your total prize value is <\/span>$500 or more<\/b>, you are legally required to use printed or systematically secure digital tickets that contain specific disclosure text (draw date, price, purpose).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        4. Queensland (QLD)<\/b><\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Regulatory Body:<\/b> Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR)<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Permit Threshold:<\/b> QLD operates on a tiered system based on <\/span>gross ticket sales<\/b>, not prize values:<\/span>\n
            \n
          • Category 1 (Sales up to $2,000):<\/span><\/i> No permit required.<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Category 2 (Sales $2,001 to $50,000):<\/span><\/i> No permit required for eligible non-profits.<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Category 3 (Sales over $50,000):<\/span><\/i> A Category 3 Gaming Licence is strictly required.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Key Law to Know:<\/b> The total value of the prize pool must be at least <\/span>20% of the estimated gross ticket sales<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            5. South Australia (SA)<\/b><\/h3>\n
              \n
            • Regulatory Body:<\/b> Consumer and Business Services (CBS)<\/span><\/li>\n
            • Permit Threshold:<\/b> Known as “Minor Lotteries” if the total prize value is <\/span>$5,000 or less<\/b>\u2014no permit required. “Major Lotteries” with prizes over $5,000 require a formal licence.<\/span><\/li>\n
            • Key Law to Know:<\/b> SA enforces minimum return-to-charity percentages. For Minor Lotteries, at least 20% of gross proceeds must go to the approved purpose; for Major Lotteries, that number jumps to <\/span>35%<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              6. Australian Capital Territory (ACT)<\/b><\/h3>\n
                \n
              • Regulatory Body:<\/b> ACT Gambling and Racing Commission<\/span><\/li>\n
              • Permit Threshold:<\/b> Exempt from a permit if the total prize value is <\/span>$2,500 or less<\/b>. Anything above $2,500 requires a permit.<\/span><\/li>\n
              • Key Law to Know:<\/b> The ACT has a tight ticket-selling cap relative to prizes. For prize pools under $10,000, total ticket sales cannot exceed 5 times the value of the prizes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                7. Northern Territory (NT)<\/b><\/h3>\n
                  \n
                • Regulatory Body:<\/b> Licensing NT<\/span><\/li>\n
                • Permit Threshold:<\/b> Tiered based on total ticket value for sale:<\/span>\n
                    \n
                  • Sales up to $5,000:<\/span><\/i> No permit required.<\/span><\/li>\n
                  • Sales $5,001 to $20,000:<\/span><\/i> Minor Lottery Permit required.<\/span><\/li>\n
                  • Sales over $20,000:<\/span><\/i> Major Lottery Permit required.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                  • Key Law to Know:<\/b> NT has the highest prize-to-ticket ratio in Australia\u2014the total prize value <\/span>must be at least one-third (33.3%)<\/b> of the total value of tickets available for sale. Furthermore, alcohol cannot be offered as a principal prize.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    8. Tasmania (TAS)<\/b><\/h3>\n
                      \n
                    • Regulatory Body:<\/b> Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission<\/span><\/li>\n
                    • Permit Threshold:<\/b> No permit required if the total prize value is <\/span>$10,000 or less<\/b>. Anything over requires a Minor Gaming Permit.<\/span><\/li>\n
                    • Key Law to Know:<\/b> Tasmania enforces a hard cap on cash prizes. Total cash (or cash-equivalent vouchers) cannot exceed <\/span>$5,000<\/b> per raffle. It also explicitly bans “Reverse Raffles” (where the first ticket drawn does not win the major prize).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      2026 Quick Reference Compliance Matrix<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                      \n

                      State \/ Territory<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Permit Required If…<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Max Cash Prize Allowed<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Record Keeping Period<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

                      \n

                      WA<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Any multi-day or online raffle<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Subject to permit conditions<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      12 months<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

                      \n

                      NSW<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Prize pool > $30,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      No limit<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      3 years<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

                      \n

                      VIC<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Prize pool > $20000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      No limit<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      3 years<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

                      \n

                      QLD<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Gross ticket sales > $50,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      No limit<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      7 years (for permitted)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

                      \n

                      SA<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Prize pool > $5,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      No limit<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      1 year (for major)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

                      \n

                      ACT<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Prize pool > $2,500<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      No limit<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      12 months<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

                      \n

                      NT<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Gross ticket sales > $5,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      No limit<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      7 years (for major)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

                      \n

                      TAS<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Prize pool > $10,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      Capped at $5,000<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

                      		\n

                      7 years<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                       <\/p>\n

                      Best Practices for Modern Organizers<\/b><\/h2>\n
                        \n
                      1. Geo-Fence Your Ticket Sales:<\/b> If you do not have the budget or timeline to apply for a WA or ACT permit, configure your digital fundraising platform to reject transactions from billing addresses outside of your fully permitted states.<\/span><\/li>\n
                      2. Review Universal Prize Prohibitions:<\/b> Across all states, tobacco products, firearms, ammunition, cosmetic surgery vouchers, and unregulated gambling products are universally banned as raffle prizes.<\/span><\/li>\n
                      3. Control Alcohol Prizes:<\/b> If you include wine or liquor hampers, ensure your terms specify that both ticket sellers and buyers must be <\/span>over 18 years of age<\/b>. In WA, alcohol prizes must have a total retail value of under $1,000.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        Disclaimer:<\/b> Raffle regulations are subject to structural changes and regular legal amendments. Always verify your specific campaign metrics with the relevant state gambling authority before printing tickets or launching online portals.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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