California Raffles — What You Need to Know

Raffles can be a powerful way to boost fundraising at your event. In California, nonprofits are allowed to run raffles — but they must follow specific state regulations.

Key requirements include:

• Being a registered nonprofit organization in California

• Ensuring at least 90% of proceeds go directly to charitable purposes

• Registering the raffle in advance (typically 60 days prior)

• Receiving approval before selling tickets

• Filing a year-end financial report for all raffles conducted

Raffle registration runs on a calendar-year basis (Jan 1 – Dec 31), and additional registration may be required if your raffle spans two calendar years.

Our Role

We specialize in helping you maximize fundraising results and create an engaging raffle experience for your audience.

While your organization is responsible for ensuring compliance with California regulations, we work alongside you and your team to help deliver a smooth, exciting, and high-performing raffle strategy on the night.

👉 For full legal details, visit:
https://oag.ca.gov/charities/raffles