Illinois Raffle Laws 2026: Licensing & Rules for Nonprofits

‍

Table of contents

• Illinois raffle definition under the Raffles and Poker Runs Act

• Do you need a license to host a raffle in Illinois?

• Who can host a raffle in Illinois?

• The 5-year operating requirement and what to do if your nonprofit is newer

• What Illinois law actually says: key statutory text from the Raffles and Poker Runs Act

• Penalties for hosting an unlicensed raffle in Illinois

• Local governing body raffle laws

• Raffle license requirements by county and municipality

• Chicago raffle license requirements

• Can you sell raffle tickets online in Illinois using Zeffy's ticketing forms?

• Poker runs in Illinois: what you need to know

• What to include on tickets for your nonprofit's raffle

• After your nonprofit's raffle

• Can you use Zeffy to run online raffles in Illinois?

• Keep learning (our sources):

‍

In the United States, raffles, opportunity drawings, and lotteries are governed at the state level. Each state has its own raffle rules that dictate what counts as a raffle, which organizations may host one, and what's required to conduct raffles legally.

Illinois makes this more complicated than most states because licensing isn't handled by the state at all. It's delegated to 103 county clerks and more than 1,000 municipal offices, each with its own fees, prize caps, and rules on whether you can sell tickets online.

That said, raffles remain one of the highest-revenue fundraisers small nonprofits run, and they consistently pull in new donors who wouldn't otherwise engage. The first one takes real time to set up, but the payoff for a small org is usually worth it.

We're here to walk you through it. Below is what Illinois law actually says, how to get a license in your county, and how to set up a raffle on Zeffy once your license is in hand. We also have practical tips on how to sell raffle tickets.

‍

Illinois raffle definition under the Raffles and Poker Runs Act

The controlling statute is the Illinois Raffles and Poker Runs Act (230 ILCS 15/). In substance, a raffle is a form of lottery in which participants pay for a chance, represented by a numbered ticket, and the winner is determined by a random draw. Any event that mixes purchase, chance, and a prize awarded by drawing falls under the Act.

For a small nonprofit, that definition matters because it tells you what you can and can't do without a license. A free-entry drawing with no purchase isn't a raffle. A "donate for a chance to win" campaign almost always is. When in doubt, treat it as a raffle and go through your county.

‍

‍

Do you need a license to host a raffle in Illinois?

Yes. It is illegal to host a raffle in Illinois without a license from your county or municipality (per 230 ILCS 15/). Contrary to a common misconception, the Illinois Gaming Board does not license charitable raffles. It regulates casinos, video gaming terminals, and sports wagering. Charitable raffle licensing is delegated to local governing bodies.

Hosting an unlicensed raffle can trigger criminal-code exposure for individual organizers, not just the nonprofit itself. More on that below.

‍

How does a nonprofit apply for a raffle license in Illinois?

Because licensing is local, a bona fide member of your organization must apply through the county clerk or municipal office where you'll conduct the raffle.

There is no statewide application form to download. Ask the county clerk or municipal office where you will run the raffle for the form they use, because under 230 ILCS 15 the licence, the rules and the paperwork are all set locally.

For a small nonprofit: call your county clerk before you fill anything out. Ten minutes on the phone will tell you the fee, the prize cap, whether online sales are permitted, and whether your org qualifies. That single call saves the most time on the whole project.

‍

How many raffles does a license allow a nonprofit to host?

Illinois lets each county or municipality decide how many raffles a nonprofit can hold during a license period. Most local licenses cover a single raffle or a defined series within one calendar year. Confirm with your issuing office.

‍

Does it cost money for a nonprofit to register for a raffle in Illinois?

License fees vary by county and by the prize amount awarded.

Examples of fees for raffle licenses across Illinois:

• McLean County: ranges from free to $50 based on prize value

• Aurora: ranges from free to $25 based on prize value

• Oswego: ranges from free to $25 based on prize value

Some counties also cap the share of tickets any single participant may hold. If you're running a large-prize raffle, ask your issuing body whether a per-participant ticket cap applies.

‍

Who can host a raffle in Illinois?

The Illinois Raffles and Poker Runs Act limits raffles to a specific list of qualifying organizations:

• 1. Bona fide religious, charitable, labor, business, fraternal, educational, or veterans' organizations, or other bona fide not-for-profit organizations that:

• Are organized as a nonprofit in Illinois

• Operate without profit

• Have been operating for at least 5 years before applying for a raffle license

• Have, during that entire 5-year period, been carrying out their objectives

• 1. A nonprofit fundraising organization that the municipality or county determines is organized to provide financial assistance to an individual or group suffering extreme financial hardship due to illness, disability, accident, or disaster (the "hardship exemption")

• 2. Any law enforcement agencies or associations representing law enforcement officials

• 3. Any fire protection agencies or associations representing fire protection officials

• 4. A political committee, which must first receive an approved license from the State Board of Elections and have no officers deemed to lack good moral character. The entire net proceeds must go to the lawful purposes of the political committee

Eligible organizations must also not owe the State Board of Elections any unpaid civil penalty authorized by Sections 9-3, 9-10, or 9-23 of the Election Code, and must not have any unresolved claim at the time of application.

For a small nonprofit: the two eligibility traps are the 5-year rule and the "bona fide" test. If you were incorporated less than five years ago, or if your org exists mostly on paper without an active mission history, expect the county to push back. Read the next section before you apply.

‍

The 5-year operating requirement and what to do if your nonprofit is newer

The 5-year rule catches a lot of newer nonprofits off guard. If your organization hasn't been operating continuously for five years before you apply, you don't qualify under the standard eligibility category, even if you're a registered 501(c)(3) with a clear mission.

There's no general waiver process for the 5-year requirement under the Raffles and Poker Runs Act. The legislature set this threshold deliberately, as a safeguard against pop-up operations using the raffle framework to skirt gambling laws.

That said, newer nonprofits aren't completely shut out. The Act includes one specific alternative pathway.

The hardship exemption (Category 2 in the eligibility list)

If your organization exists specifically to provide financial assistance to individuals suffering from extreme hardship due to illness, disability, accident, or disaster, you may qualify under Category 2 even without five years of operating history. The county or municipality makes this determination case by case. Document your organization's purpose and the specific hardship situation you're addressing clearly in the application.

If your nonprofit is fewer than 5 years old and doesn't fall under the hardship exemption, here's what to do instead:

• Partner with a qualifying organization that's at least 5 years old and has an aligned mission. That organization applies for the license and hosts the raffle, with proceeds directed toward your shared purpose.

• Focus on other fundraising formats. Zeffy supports online donation forms, ticketed events, and peer-to-peer campaigns that don't require a raffle license.

• Plan ahead. Document your organization's founding date carefully so you know when you cross the 5-year threshold and can apply immediately.

If you're uncertain whether your organization qualifies, contact your county clerk's office before you start selling tickets. They make the eligibility determination, and getting clarity upfront saves you from real legal exposure.

For a small nonprofit under 5 years old: the honest read is skip the raffle this year. The hardship-exemption path is narrow, and partnering with an established org means signing away control of the fundraiser. A donation form or a ticketed event that doesn't fall under the Raffles Act will usually raise more, faster, with less risk.

‍

What Illinois law actually says: key statutory text from the Raffles and Poker Runs Act

Understanding the legal framework behind Illinois raffle licensing isn't just good practice. It protects your organization from serious consequences. Rather than summarizing in general terms, here is what the Illinois Raffles and Poker Runs Act (230 ILCS 15/) actually establishes, so your board and legal counsel can review the precise language.

The section references below reflect the current statute (2013 codification, ongoing amendments). The full text is available at ilga.gov under 230 ILCS 15/. Read the source directly for the exact language; what follows is paraphrase, not verbatim.

‍

The core definitions (Sec. 1)

Sec. 1 of the Act contains the operative definitions, including "raffle" and "net proceeds." In substance, a raffle is a form of lottery in which each participant buys a chance for a prize, with the winner determined by a random drawing.

Why this matters operationally: any event structured differently, such as a drawing tied to a purchase requirement without a numbered-ticket mechanism, may fall outside the Act's protection and into prohibited lottery territory under the Illinois Criminal Code.

‍

Licensing eligibility and local fee authority (Sec. 2)

Sec. 2 is where the licensing framework lives. Sec. 2(a) grants each county board and municipal governing authority the power to license raffles conducted within its jurisdiction, and to set license fees and impose local conditions. This is why fees, prize caps, and online-sales rules vary across Illinois.

Sec. 2(b) sets the eligibility list. Only bona fide religious, charitable, labor, business, fraternal, educational, or veterans' organizations that have operated for at least five years qualify, along with the hardship-exemption pathway and specific categories for law enforcement, fire protection, and political-committee organizations.

For a small nonprofit: the practical takeaway is that your county or municipality is the actual answer-giver, not the state. If someone tells you "Illinois says X," and X isn't in Sec. 2 or Sec. 4, they're probably describing a local rule that only applies where they live.

‍

Conduct of raffles (Sec. 4)

Sec. 4 governs how a licensed raffle must be operated. Among other requirements, all proceeds after actual expenses and prizes must be used solely for the lawful purposes of the licensed organization. Sec. 4 also restricts who may manage a raffle, addresses the participation of minors (with parental permission), and prohibits any person from receiving compensation for conducting a raffle beyond actual expenses.

‍

Penalty provisions (Sec. 8)

This is where the stakes become concrete. Sec. 8 provides that any person who conducts a raffle without a license, or who violates any provision of the Act, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

A Class A misdemeanor in Illinois carries penalties of up to 364 days in jail and fines up to $2,500 per offense (730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55). This exposure attaches to individual officers and organizers, not just the organization itself.

Unlicensed raffles may also expose organizers to charges under Illinois's broader gambling statutes for promoting a lottery, which is a separate criminal offense. Consult a nonprofit attorney familiar with Illinois gaming law if you're unsure whether your event structure is compliant.

‍

What this means for your organization

These aren't abstract legal risks. Officers who sign raffle applications carry personal liability if the event is conducted improperly. Before selling a single ticket, confirm that:

• Your license is issued and in hand (not just applied for)

• All ticket sales, expenses, and proceeds are documented from the first sale

• Minors are not participating in prohibited roles

• Net proceeds are directed exclusively to your organization's exempt purposes

• Raffle funds are held in a separate bank account, apart from your other revenue

When in doubt, consult your county clerk's office or a nonprofit attorney. The full statutory text is available at ilga.gov under 230 ILCS 15/.

For a small nonprofit: you don't need to read the whole statute. You need the license in hand, a clean ticket-sales log, and a separate bank account. If those three things are true, you're covered on the parts of the Act that matter most.

‍

Penalties for hosting an unlicensed raffle in Illinois

Running a raffle without a valid license isn't a paperwork oversight. It's a criminal offense, and the exposure lands on individual people, not just the organization.

Class A misdemeanor charges

Under 230 ILCS 15/Sec. 8, any person who conducts a raffle without a license is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Under 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55, a Class A misdemeanor carries up to 364 days in jail and fines up to $2,500 per offense. Officers and organizers who signed the application or ran the event are the people at risk, not just the nonprofit entity.

Broader gambling exposure

An unlicensed raffle can also be prosecuted under Illinois's broader gambling statutes as an illegal lottery, a separate offense from the Raffles Act violation. An organizer could potentially face charges under both frameworks for the same event.

Enforcement in practice

Local authorities, typically county clerks and municipal offices, are the first line of enforcement. They can deny future license applications to organizations that have operated unlicensed events. State's Attorneys can pursue misdemeanor charges against individual organizers. The State Board of Elections has oversight for political-committee-hosted raffles.

The practical takeaway

Don't start selling tickets until your license is physically in hand. An application in process doesn't protect you. If your event date changes, check whether your license needs to be amended. Licenses specify the date and scope of the authorized raffle. Keep a copy at your event in case a local official asks to see it.

For a small nonprofit: the enforcement pattern isn't dramatic raids. It's a denied license the next year, or a State's Attorney letter after someone complains. Either one can quietly kill a small org's biggest annual fundraiser for years. Don't cut the licensing corner.

‍

Local governing body raffle laws

There are 103 counties and more than 1,000 municipalities in Illinois, so we're not diving into each one here. Illinois does set general guidelines each local body must follow when establishing rules:

• The maximum retail value of all prizes or merchandise awarded in a single raffle

• The maximum retail value of each individual prize

• The maximum price that may be charged for each raffle ticket

• The maximum number of days during which tickets may be sold

• Whether there is a fee to apply for a raffle license, and how much

• The exact activities a license authorizes

• Whether a license is valid for one raffle or a defined series, capped at one year

• The county or municipality must act on a license application within 30 days of receipt

Some counties also cap the share of tickets any single participant may hold, a rule aimed at preventing one person from effectively guaranteeing a win. Ask your issuing body about participant ticket-ownership limits before you promote the raffle.

Every dollar of net proceeds must go toward your nonprofit's mission.

‍

Raffle license requirements by county and municipality

Because Illinois delegates raffle licensing entirely to local governments, fees and rules vary significantly by jurisdiction. The table below covers the most commonly searched Illinois counties and municipalities, based on publicly available information from each issuing body. Always verify directly with your local office before applying. Requirements change.

‍

‍

A few things to know when reading the table:

• "Set locally" means the jurisdiction sets its own limit, which you'll find on their application form. There's no statewide cap on ticket price or individual prize value. Only what each county chooses to authorize.

• Many Cook County jurisdictions have their own municipal rules that supersede county-level guidance. If your event is in a municipality within Cook County, contact that municipality directly rather than the county clerk.

• Some counties (like McLean) publish tiered fee schedules based on the total prize value of your raffle. A small-prize raffle may be free to license; a large-prize one may carry a higher fee.

If your jurisdiction isn't listed, start at your county clerk's official website or call the office. They're required by law to act on your application within 30 days.

For a small nonprofit: the fees themselves aren't the real cost. The real cost is time spent on the wrong local office. Confirm which body issues your license (county clerk vs. municipal office) before you fill out anything.

‍

Chicago raffle license requirements

Chicago deserves its own section because a large share of Illinois nonprofits are based here, and the city has specific requirements that differ from surrounding Cook County municipalities.

Issuing body: Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP).

License fee: $100 flat fee for a raffle license, payable to the City of Chicago.

Maximum aggregate prize value: $250,000 across all prizes in a single raffle.

501(c)(3) requirement: Chicago requires the applying organization to demonstrate 501(c)(3) status (or equivalent nonprofit designation) in addition to meeting the state's 5-year operating requirement.

Application process: Applications are filed through BACP. You'll need your organization's legal name, proof of nonprofit status, officer information, a description of prizes, and the intended use of proceeds.

Ticket sales: Whether Chicago-based nonprofits can sell tickets online is a local determination. Contact BACP directly, in writing, to confirm what's permitted for your specific event.

Minimum age: Consistent with state law, minors may not purchase raffle tickets, and their participation in conducting a raffle is restricted.

If your nonprofit is based in Chicago or plans to sell tickets primarily within city limits, verify all requirements with BACP before submitting your license application. Chicago's requirements have been updated periodically, and the department's website or a direct phone call will give you the current rules.

For a small Chicago nonprofit: put the BACP written confirmation on your online-sales question in your event file. If enforcement ever comes up, that email is the evidence that you asked before you sold.

‍

Can you sell raffle tickets online in Illinois using Zeffy's ticketing forms?

Yes and no. Whether a nonprofit can sell raffle tickets online is decided by the individual county or municipality, not by the state.

The state of Illinois does allow you to use the internet to:

• Advertise your raffle (newsletters, banners, social posts)

• Display the rules of the raffle

• Store contact information for your licensed organization (name, address, phone, email)

• Answer frequently asked questions

• List descriptions, photographs, or videos of the raffle prizes (get inspired by these raffle prize ideas)

• List prize winners after the drawing

What the state does not decide is whether the actual sale transaction happens online. That's your county's or city's call. Get your license in hand, then ask the issuing body, in writing, whether online sales are permitted for your specific event.

If your county says yes, Zeffy can host the raffle end to end: numbered tickets, unique QR codes, automated e-ticket delivery, and one dashboard for online and offline sales.

If your county says no, Zeffy still handles the parts that don't change by county:

• Record offline ticket sales in your Zeffy dashboard so in-person sales, online interest, and donor contacts live in one place

• Track who bought what, along with email and phone, so you can reach the winner(s)

• Automatically build a contact list to send thank-you emails, re-engage donors, and announce next year's raffle

Zeffy is used and loved by 100K+ nonprofits and has helped raise $2B+ in donations, including raffle campaigns like yours.

Illinois requires nonprofits to keep all raffle ticket stubs, gross receipts, expenses, and net proceeds for every raffle for three (3) years. Whatever mix of online and offline sales your county allows, the records still need to hold up to a three-year lookback.

‍

‍

Poker runs in Illinois: what you need to know

The statute is officially called the Illinois Raffles and Poker Runs Act, and that second half of the name matters. Poker runs are a distinct type of fundraising event that falls under the same legal framework as raffles, and they're popular with motorcycle clubs, veterans organizations, and community groups.

What is a poker run?

A poker run is an organized event, often involving motorcycles, bicycles, boats, or walking, where participants travel to a series of checkpoints and draw a playing card at each one. At the end of the route, the participant with the best poker hand wins a prize. Participants typically pay an entry fee, which makes the event a regulated activity under Illinois law.

Do poker runs require a license?

Yes. Because participants pay to enter and prizes are awarded based on chance (the cards drawn), poker runs fall under the same licensing framework as raffles. Your organization must obtain a license from your county or municipality before hosting a poker run, using the same application process as a traditional raffle.

Who can host a poker run?

The same eligibility rules apply. Your organization must be a qualifying nonprofit (religious, charitable, labor, business, fraternal, educational, veterans, law enforcement, or fire protection) and must meet the 5-year operating requirement or qualify under the hardship exemption. Political committees with State Board of Elections approval may also host poker runs.

Key operational rules for poker runs

• Net proceeds must go exclusively toward your organization's exempt purposes, after deducting actual expenses.

• Minors' participation is restricted, consistent with the Act.

• No individual may receive compensation for organizing beyond reimbursement of actual expenses.

• Winners must be determined by card draw, not by any skill component or by a separately exhibited sporting event.

• All raffle recordkeeping requirements apply equally: gross receipts, expenses, net proceeds, and prize documentation kept for three years.

Practical considerations

Poker runs often cross county or municipal lines. If your route spans more than one jurisdiction, check whether you need licenses from each governing body or whether one license covers the full event. Some counties issue a single license for a poker run passing through their territory; others require separate applications. Clarify this with each county clerk along your planned route before you promote the event.

If your organization can't qualify for a raffle or poker-run license (for example, under-5-year orgs outside the hardship exemption), you can still run non-raffle event revenue. Use Zeffy's ticketing for non-raffle event revenue like gala tickets, dinners, and sponsorships that don't fall under the Raffles and Poker Runs Act.

For a small nonprofit running a poker run: the multi-jurisdiction question is the one that trips people up. Call every county clerk on the route. One denial mid-route can shut the whole event down.

‍

What to include on tickets for your nonprofit's raffle

• A consecutive number for each ticket

• The cost of each chance

• The date, time, and location of the drawing

• The name of your licensed organization

• A description of prizes

• Whether the winner must be present at the drawing

Even though it isn't strictly required, we recommend printed tickets have a detachable coupon or stub, with a matching unique number on both halves. It's the single most common recordkeeping gap.

If you're collecting payment in person at the drawing or at events beforehand, ask your county or municipal licensing body whether card payment is permitted for raffle ticket sales before you accept one. Illinois sets raffle rules locally under 230 ILCS 15, so the answer varies by jurisdiction. Whatever you take, log every sale in one place so your ticket-sales record is clean.

You can purchase pre-made tickets or get inspired by our sample ticket:

‍

After your nonprofit's raffle

The work doesn't stop once the winners are drawn. Illinois requires specific post-raffle reporting.

Illinois requires your nonprofit to:

• Keep records of gross receipts, reasonable operating expenses, sums expended on prizes, and net proceeds for every raffle

• Document all deductions from gross receipts with receipts or other records showing the amount, a description, and the recipient

• Report the distribution of net proceeds itemized by payee, purpose, amount, and payment date

• File a report of gross receipts, expenses, net proceeds, and distribution with your membership or local government after the raffle is complete

• Ensure winners are not determined by the outcome of a publicly exhibited sporting contest

‍

A little more about the paperwork:

• Nonprofits must keep gross receipts from raffles separate from other revenue sources

• Raffle funds must be held in a separate bank account

• The person accounting for raffle receipts, expenses, and net proceeds cannot be the same person accounting for your nonprofit's other revenues

This is where a spreadsheet-based org usually gets in trouble. Manage participants and export the three-year records Illinois requires so the ticket-sales log, prize records, and net-proceeds report are one export instead of three reconstructions.

For a small nonprofit: the separate-bank-account rule is the one boards forget. Open the account before you sell the first ticket, not after.

‍

Can you use Zeffy to run online raffles in Illinois?

Are raffles legal in Illinois? Yes, for qualifying organizations that hold a valid local license. Can you sell the tickets online? That one has no statewide answer, and the honest version is yes and no.

It depends on your county or municipality. Illinois delegates raffle licensing to the local governing authority (per 230 ILCS 15/), and each issuing body decides its own terms, including whether online ticket sales are permitted for your specific event. There's no statewide "yes" and no statewide "no." Get your local license in hand first, then ask the issuing body, in writing, whether online sales are allowed. In Chicago, that issuing body is the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP).

Where your county permits online raffle sales: Zeffy can host the raffle end to end. Numbered tickets with unique QR codes, automated e-ticket delivery, and the same dashboard for offline sales that come in at the same time.

Where your county does not permit online raffle sales, Zeffy still handles:

• Recording in-person ticket sales in your Zeffy dashboard for unified reporting and the three-year record Illinois requires

• Recording your in-person raffle ticket sales in one ledger, whatever payment your licensing body allows you to accept

• Donation forms for donation-only fundraising, useful for orgs under 5 years that don't qualify for the hardship exemption

• Event ticketing for non-raffle event revenue (gala tickets, dinners, sponsorships) that doesn't fall under the Raffles and Poker Runs Act (zeffy.com/home/ticketing-system-fundraising-events)

• Donor management to hold participant contacts and export the three-year records Illinois requires (zeffy.com/home/donor-management)

While you can't use Zeffy's raffle tools to sell tickets online in every Illinois county, you can use Zeffy to simplify the ticket-sales log, the recordkeeping, and the non-raffle event revenue that goes alongside your raffle.

For a small Illinois nonprofit: the sequence is what matters. Get the local license first. Ask about online sales, and about card payment, in writing. Then set up the parts of your event that don't depend on the county's answer (offline ticket log, donor records) so you're not blocked while you wait.

‍

‍

Frequently Asked Questions - Illinois Raffle Laws

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍