Electronic raffles (charitable or nonprofit)

Learn what you need to offer a charitable or nonprofit electronic raffle license, including applications, training information, and recordkeeping requirements.

Who can apply for an electronic raffle license

Only a bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization with a purpose that meets certain criteria is allowed to conduct electronic raffles in Washington. The organization must:

  • Be organized and continuously operating for at least 12 months before applying for a license
  • Is established by or directly affiliated with a qualified sports team for the purpose of raising funds for charity
  • Plans to conduct electronic raffles in accordance with the law regarding raffles.

Learn more about our licensing requirements for charitable or nonprofit organizations.

About electronic raffles

Visit the Washington State Legislature site to see all the rules that govern raffles (apps.leg.wa.gov).

A "raffle" is a game in which:

  • Tickets bearing an individual number are sold for not more than $100 each
  • Prize or prizes are awarded on the basis of a drawing from the tickets by the person or persons conducting the game
  • No person other than a bona fide member of the organization takes any part in the management or operation of the game
  • No part of the proceeds can benefit any person other than the organization conducting the game.

An "electronic raffle" means a licensed raffle that uses an electronic raffle system for sales, accountability, and printing of tickets. 

Electronic raffles can only be conducted during a home game of a qualified sports team. 

How to apply

In addition to all the materials outlined in our licensing process, the complete application includes the application fee.

Apply for a license online through MyAccount unless you're approved for an online waiver. You must be registered for SecureAccess Washington (SAW).

Visit the Washington State Legislature site to see if you qualify for an online waiver (apps.leg.wa.gov). 

Learn how to register for MyAccount 

  1. Use your SAW username and password to log in to MyAccount 
  2. In the MyAccount home page, click on your name and choose Profile in the drop-down menu
  3. Click the 'Create Organization Request' button
  4. If the nonprofit organization exists in our system, 'Create Organization Request' is used to add a user to the organization's MyAccount. If the organization is not in our system, then this action will create a temporary organization in our system and allow you to apply for a license
  5. Complete the form for the new organization. Any field with a red asterisk is a required field. Submit the form
  6. In the Application tab, click 'New License Application' button
  7. Select the license type of the gambling activity you're applying for and complete all required fields to submit your application
  8. Pay for the application fee in the Billing and Payment tab.

Required training

After we grant your license, you have 30 days to complete your required training:

Highest-ranking officer

In addition to the above training for your activity, you must also review the following:

Required recordkeeping

You must:

  • Complete records, in the format we prescribe, for each raffle within 72 hours after each drawing
  • Record all data in ink, on storage media, or in other permanent form
  • Print, or back up in a permanent form, all the original sales data supporting the raffle drawing
  • Separately maintain the drawing's printed raffle tickets for a minimum of 30 days or until the prize is awarded, whichever is greater
  • Keep all winning tickets
  • Keep the video recording of each drawing
  • Keep the test form we prescribe for each electronic raffle
  • Keep any and all electronic raffle system reports listed in GLI-31
  • Retain all invoices or receipts for raffles prizes and expenses
  • Keep a set of permanent monthly records of electronic raffle activity.

Use the following handouts to help you keep records that meet our standards:

Retaining your records

You must retain the records for 3 years from the end of your fiscal year.

Reporting annual qualifications

Electronic raffle licensees must report annually their progress toward meeting their stated purpose. The report is due within 120 days following their fiscal year. 

To submit your required annual progress and financial statements:

  1. Use your SAW username and password to log in to MyAccount
  2. Click on the 'Submission' tab
  3. Click on 'Create a New Submission'
  4. In the submission type, select 'Other Submission' from the drop-down menu
  5. In the other submission type, select 'Financial Statements-Licensee'
  6. Click 'Save and Next'
  7. Upload the financial statements and click 'Submit'. 

A Licensing Agent will send you a secure message if additional information is needed. 

Renewing your license

Licenses expire each year. Learn more about how to renew your license.

Reporting changes to your license

There are certain changes you must tell us about. Learn how to report changes to your license.