Washington State Raffle Laws: Rules & WSGC Licensing Guide [2026]

Below, you'll get a plain-English look at Washington's raffle laws: eligibility, a step-by-step license walkthrough, ticket and prize rules, penalties, and exactly what Zeffy can (and cannot) do for a raffle in WA.

Table of contents

• Who can host a raffle in Washington

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

• Step-by-step: how to obtain a raffle license in Washington

• Key Washington raffle statutes and regulations

• Penalties and violations for illegal raffle activity

• Raffle ticket and prize rules in Washington

• Raffle requirements by organization type

• Raffle rules for schools, PTAs, and student organizations

• Washington raffles vs. other fundraising gambling activities

• 4 critical compliance tips

• Washington raffle compliance checklist

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

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Who can host a raffle in Washington

Only specific nonprofit organizations operating for at least 12 months can legally conduct charitable raffles in Washington. Qualified organizations need bylaws or articles of incorporation stating they operate exclusively for one or more of these purposes:

• Charitable

• Educational

• Civic

• Patriotic

• Athletic

• Agricultural

• Fraternal

• Political

• Social

Additionally, the following types of organizations can qualify:

• Agricultural fairs

• Fraternal societies

• Religious societies or churches

• Granges

For a small nonprofit: if you're an all-volunteer group in month 11 of operation, you don't qualify yet. Wait out the 12-month clock or partner with a qualified parent org for this year's fundraiser.

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

A WSGC raffle license IS required if:

• You host more than two public raffles per year.

• Gross revenue from raffles (public or members-only) exceeds $5,000 in a calendar year.

• Prizes include firearms or liquor.

• Tickets are sold by someone other than a member of your organization.

• You offer non-cash incentives or discounted tickets.

• You select winners with an alternative drawing format (like a poker run).

A license is NOT required for up to two unlicensed raffles if:

• Your combined gross revenue from raffles does not exceed $5,000 in a calendar year.

• Only organization members sell raffle tickets.

• All proceeds go toward your organization's stated purpose.

Good to know: in addition to public raffles, you can host an unlimited number of members-only raffles without a license. Total revenue from those raffles still can't exceed $5,000 a year.

For a small nonprofit: the unlicensed lane (two public raffles a year, under $5,000, member-sold in person) is where the real ROI lives. The licensed track means a 150-day WSGC application, quarterly reporting, and personal liability exposure for board members. Unless you have a dedicated compliance owner, keep this quarter's raffle inside the exempt lane.

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Step-by-step: how to obtain a raffle license in Washington

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Once you know a license is required, the guide below removes the guesswork.

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Step 1: Confirm your organization qualifies

Double-check that you meet the 12-month operating requirement and one of the qualifying purposes above. Otherwise you may spend weeks on paperwork just to be told you aren't ready yet.

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Step 2: Prepare your documentation

Have everything in one folder before you open the online form:

• Proof of 501(c)(3) status

• Your raffle plan and stated purpose

• A detailed description of the raffle (type, ticket sales, dates, locations, prizes)

• Financial estimates (gross revenue and expenses)

• Governing-board approval of the raffle

• Raffle rules and disclosures

• A record-keeping and reporting plan

• Bonding or insurance (if applicable based on raffle size)

• Marketing and promotion plans

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Step 3: Register with SecureAccess Washington (SAW)

Register with SecureAccess Washington (SAW) and add the Washington State Gambling Commission service to your account. SAW is the login layer for the WSGC portal.

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Step 4: Apply for the raffle license online

From the WSGC website, open the Charitable and Nonprofit Organization Raffle License Application. Applications can take up to 150 days to process, so plan well ahead of your event date.

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Step 5: Pay license fees and notify local law enforcement

License fees are based on expected gross revenue. Check the current fee schedule on the WSGC website. If you're conducting a licensed raffle, you must notify local police in writing before selling tickets, so get ahead of that now.

Annual raffle license fees:

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Learn more about fees on the WSGC licensing-fees page.

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Step 6: Complete required training after your license is granted

Washington requires new licensees to complete required training within 30 days of receiving their license. Topics include:

• Rules for licensees

• Charitable and nonprofit rules

• Criminal violations

• Responsibilities of officers and board members

• Management guidelines

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How will you know if your application was approved or denied?

If approved, you can print the license within 24 hours through your SAW account. If denied, WSGC will provide an explanation. Common denial reasons include insufficient information, unpaid fees, and issues found during criminal or financial background checks. You can supply additional information to prove suitability, or withdraw the application.

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For a small nonprofit: the 150-day processing window is the single most-missed detail here. If you want a raffle at your December gala, your application needs to be complete by mid-summer. Work backward from your drawing date.

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Key Washington raffle statutes and regulations

Understanding why the rules exist, and where they come from, helps your organization stay compliant and respond confidently if questions arise from board members, auditors, or donors. Washington's raffle laws are governed by a combination of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC), administered by the Washington State Gambling Commission (WSGC).

Below is a consolidated reference table of the statutes and administrative rules that directly affect nonprofit raffle operations in Washington.

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Quick-reference: Washington raffle law table

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Why these citations matter for your organization

RCW 9.46.0315 is the practical statute for most small orgs: it's the members-only, under-$5,000 exemption. Read it before you decide whether to apply for a license.

RCW 9.46.0321 defines which organization types can legally conduct charitable gaming. If your org type isn't listed here, no amount of good intentions makes your raffle legal.

WAC 230-11-030 has direct operational impact. It spells out who may sell tickets, and it is where the internet prohibition actually lives: subsection (4)(a) says organizations must not "Sell raffle tickets via the internet". If your plan involves any digital channel for ticket sales, this is the rule to read first.

WAC 230-06-035 is the rule on how a buyer may pay, and it sits in a different chapter from the raffle rules, which is why it is the one most Washington raffle guides miss. Subsection (3) requires you to collect the price in full before someone takes part, and lists cash, check, gift certificate, gift card and debit card as authorized methods. Subsection (6) addresses raffles directly: charitable and nonprofit organizations "may allow credit cards, issued by a state regulated or federally regulated financial institution, for payment to participate in raffles". Subsection (1) is the limit that matters at the table: your organization must not offer credit, a loan or a gift that makes it possible for someone to play.

WAC 230-11-065 covers the prize side of the operation: what your org must own before awarding prizes, how prizes must be handled, and payout rules.

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Where to verify the current law

Washington statutes are updated through the legislative session. Always verify you're reading the current version before making compliance decisions:

• RCW full text: app.leg.wa.gov/rcw

• WAC full text: app.leg.wa.gov/wac

• Cornell LII cross-reference: law.cornell.edu/regulations/washington

If you have specific legal questions about how a statute applies to your situation, consult a Washington-licensed attorney or contact the WSGC directly at (360) 486-3440.

For a small nonprofit: you don't need to become a compliance lawyer. You need to know two things cold: the $5,000 combined gross-revenue ceiling and the two-public-raffle-per-year cap. Everything else in this table is context for board questions.

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Penalties and violations for illegal raffle activity

Understanding the license process is one thing. Knowing what happens when organizations skip it, or make mistakes along the way, is just as important. Washington takes gambling violations seriously, and the penalties range from fines to felony charges depending on the nature and scale of the violation.

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Criminal classifications under the Washington Gambling Act

Washington's general gambling penalty statutes apply to raffle violations:

RCW 9.46.220 covers professional gambling in the first degree, a felony. When an unlicensed raffle takes on a for-profit character, or when a licensed operation is used to skim proceeds, this is the statute prosecutors reach for. A Class C felony conviction in Washington can carry up to five years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

RCW 9.46.230 covers related gambling offenses and administrative penalty provisions used for less severe infractions, including conducting a raffle without a required license, failing to maintain required records, or violating administrative rules.

These aren't hypothetical worst-case scenarios. Officers, directors, and board members can be held personally liable for violations committed by their organization. The required training after licensing (Step 6 above) covers criminal violations specifically for this reason.

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Administrative penalties and license actions

Beyond criminal charges, the WSGC has its own administrative enforcement tools. If your organization violates raffle rules, the Commission can:

• Issue a formal warning or reprimand for minor or first-time violations

• Impose civil fines scaled to the severity and frequency of the violation

• Suspend your raffle license temporarily while an investigation is underway

• Revoke your raffle license permanently for serious or repeated violations

License revocation is the most damaging long-term outcome. A revoked organization can't simply re-apply. The WSGC reviews the history of violations when evaluating any future applications, and reinstatement is possible but not guaranteed.

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The most common violations to avoid

Most violations aren't the result of deliberate fraud. They're administrative oversights. Common triggers for enforcement action include:

• Missing ticket-stub fields, such as omitting drawing date, ticket price, or prize description from printed tickets

• Exceeding revenue thresholds without obtaining a license

• Selling tickets through unauthorized channels, such as online, by phone, or through non-members

• Awarding prizes the organization didn't own before the drawing

• Failing to notify local law enforcement before ticket sales begin

• Commingling raffle funds with other organizational accounts

• Late or missing annual reports to the WSGC

If you suspect your organization has made an error, don't wait for the WSGC to find it. Contact the Commission at the number above. Self-disclosure typically results in more favorable outcomes than violations discovered during audits.

For a small nonprofit: the personal-liability line is the one that should get your board's attention. Officers can be personally exposed. That's why the unlicensed lane, run correctly, is almost always the right first raffle for a small org.

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Raffle ticket and prize rules in Washington

Ticket sales regulations

Raffle ticket sales must follow these rules:

• Maximum ticket price is $100 ($250 for enhanced raffles with additional benefits).

• All tickets must be consecutively numbered or printed with non-repeating symbols.

• No complimentary, gifted, or free tickets.

• Tickets must be sold at the same price to all participants.

• Tickets may only be sold by people aged 18 or over who are members of your organization, or volunteers a member supervises (WAC 230-11-030(1)). An organization whose primary purpose is developing youth may let members under 18 sell, provided at least three adult members or advisors supervise the raffle and one adult is designated as raffle manager.

• Cash, check, gift certificate, gift card and debit card are authorized payment methods, and nonprofits may also accept credit cards issued by a state- or federally-regulated financial institution for raffle tickets (WAC 230-06-035(3) and (6)). Collect the full price before the buyer takes part, and never extend credit, a loan or an IOU.

• Tickets cannot be sold online, over the phone, or through the mail.

Read those two rules together, because this is the most misunderstood point on the page. Washington restricts the channel, not the payment method. WAC 230-11-030(4)(a) bars selling raffle tickets via the internet, while WAC 230-06-035 expressly contemplates cards, and subsection (6) names raffles and nonprofits directly. So a member taking a debit or credit card at the table is doing the thing the rules describe, not working around them. Pennsylvania is the reverse case, where the payment instrument itself is what the rule excludes.

Here is a sample ticket to help you design yours:

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Enhanced raffles

Enhanced raffles involve additional benefits, perks, or multiple prize tiers. They allow ticket prices up to $250 and typically include bonus entries, unique experiences, or exclusive rewards. A license is required for enhanced raffles if total revenue exceeds $5,000 annually.

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Use of raffle proceeds

Proceeds must be used for the organization's stated purpose. Funds may be used for:

• Supporting charitable, educational, or community programs.

• Benefiting a specific person (only with prior WSGC approval).

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Notifying law enforcement

Organizations conducting unlicensed raffles must notify local law enforcement at least five days before the drawing. For licensed raffles, written notification is required before ticket sales begin.

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Prizes and awards

• The organization must own prizes before they are awarded.

• Firearms can only be awarded at licensed raffles.

• Liquor can be a prize only at member-only raffles (with the proper permit from the WA State Liquor & Cannabis Board).

• Prior approval is required if a single prize exceeds $40,000 in retail value or if total prizes awarded exceed $300,000 in a year.

• For percentage-based prizes, a minimum guaranteed prize must be disclosed.

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Online raffles: what the standard license does (and doesn't) allow

A standard raffle license does not permit online ticket sales in Washington. The WSGC is explicit: raffle tickets "cannot be sold over the Internet or telephone." That applies to unlicensed raffles too.

The narrow Electronic Raffle License is not a general exception. It requires the organization to be directly affiliated with a qualified sports team, and the raffle must run during a home game. It is not a general online-selling permission and should not be treated as one.

Washington does allow you to use the internet to:

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

• Display the rules of the raffle.

• Store raffle contact information for your nonprofit, including your organization's name, address, phone number, and email address.

• Allow participants to download raffle entry forms for manual completion (forms cannot be submitted online).

• Answer frequently asked questions.

• List descriptions, photos, or videos of the raffle prizes.

• List the prize winners.

For a small nonprofit: plan for face-to-face selling. WAC 230-11-030(4)(a) bars selling raffle tickets via the internet, and WSGC guidance treats telephone sales the same way. What you may accept at the table is settled the other way: WAC 230-06-035 authorizes cash, check, gift certificate, gift card and debit card, and subsection (6) lets nonprofits accept credit cards issued by a regulated financial institution for raffle tickets. Collect in full, never on credit. If you want an online fundraising channel to run alongside the raffle, run a separate donation page for donations, not raffle-ticket sales.

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Raffle requirements by organization type

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Raffle rules for schools, PTAs, and student organizations

Schools and student groups face raffle questions all the time: booster-club fundraisers, PTA fall carnivals, ASB scholarship drawings. The same Washington raffle laws apply, with some nuances school-affiliated groups need to understand.

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PTAs and parent organizations

Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) are treated as nonprofit organizations under Washington raffle law. Same thresholds apply: two or fewer public raffles per year with under $5,000 in combined gross revenue, no license required. Exceed either limit and the PTA needs a WSGC raffle license.

One critical point: the $5,000 threshold applies to the entire PTA, not to individual committees or sub-groups. A spring carnival committee and a fall fundraising committee can't each claim their own $5,000 exemption. If the PTA collectively raises more than $5,000 from raffles in a calendar year, a license is required, no matter how those raffles are organized internally.

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Associated Student Bodies (ASBs)

ASBs at public schools operate under a distinct legal framework. Washington's ASB rules are governed by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in addition to WSGC gambling regulations. An ASB raffle must comply with both.

Practically, that means ASB raffles need board-level approval from the school's ASB governing structure, proper accounting through ASB fund management, and WSGC licensing if they exceed the unlicensed exemption thresholds. Check with your district's ASB coordinator before planning any raffle that involves cash prizes or ticket sales beyond a small internal event.

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Booster clubs

Athletic and arts booster clubs often operate as independent nonprofit entities affiliated with a school. If your booster club has its own 501(c)(3) or operates as a separate legal entity with its own EIN, it's treated independently from the school for raffle purposes: its own thresholds, its own reporting obligations, its own compliance responsibilities.

If your booster club operates under the school's tax-exempt status without a separate legal identity, the school's administration should be involved in any raffle planning. Some districts have explicit policies prohibiting raffles run under their tax umbrella without district approval.

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Student organizations at universities and colleges

Registered student organizations (RSOs) at Washington universities face an additional layer of oversight. Most institutions, including the University of Washington, have their own campus raffle guidelines that are often more restrictive than state minimums. UW's guidelines, for example, prohibit RSOs from selling raffle tickets to the general public and require all drawings to occur on campus.

Before planning a raffle, check your institution's student affairs or student activities office policies. Campus rules and state rules both apply, and the more restrictive rule governs.

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What school-affiliated groups can't do

A few restrictions apply universally to school-affiliated organizations:

• Minors cannot purchase raffle tickets. WSGC guidance treats raffle ticket sales as participation in gambling, which minors are prohibited from under state law.

• Proceeds must serve the organization's stated purpose. A booster club can't run a raffle and redirect proceeds to individual student stipends without prior WSGC approval.

• Non-member ticket sales are prohibited without a license. If a student organization wants parents, alumni, or community members to buy tickets, that counts as public raffle activity and counts toward the $5,000 threshold.

For a small nonprofit: a PTA or booster club with even a modest raffle history should treat "under $5,000, two raffles, members only" as the operating budget for the year. Track it centrally, not per committee.

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Washington raffles vs. other fundraising gambling activities

If your nonprofit is exploring options beyond a standard raffle, it helps to know where raffles end and other regulated gambling activities begin. Washington's Gambling Act regulates multiple types of charitable gaming, each with its own rules and license categories.

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Raffles vs. bingo

Bingo is one of the most common charitable gambling activities in Washington, and it's regulated separately from raffles. Licensed charitable bingo games have their own WAC rules and require a separate bingo license from the WSGC. Bingo involves active game play (not just a chance drawing), and the rules around session length, prize limits, and who can operate the games differ significantly.

Key distinction: in a raffle, tickets are sold in advance and a winner is drawn at a set time. In bingo, participants play in real time. If your event involves live bingo cards and caller-based play, it's bingo, not a raffle.

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Raffles vs. casino nights (charitable games)

Casino night fundraisers in Washington, sometimes called Las Vegas Nights, involve table games like blackjack, roulette, or poker. These fall under the "Fundraising Event" license category rather than a raffle license. The fee structure is different ($200 base fee, 3.318% gross gambling receipts rate up to $1,600/year, as shown in the fee table above), and the operational rules are distinct.

You can't combine a licensed casino night with a raffle under the same license. If your event includes both a raffle drawing and table games, you'll need separate authorization for each activity.

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Raffles vs. auctioned items

Silent and live auctions are generally not considered gambling under Washington law, because winners pay a determined price (the highest bid) rather than winning by chance. Auctions don't require WSGC licensing. However, if you combine an auction with a raffle element (for example, selling chances to win a specific item), that component becomes a raffle and falls under WSGC rules.

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Raffles vs. poker runs

A poker run is an event where participants travel between multiple checkpoints and collect playing cards, with the best hand winning a prize. Washington classifies poker runs as a form of raffle when tickets are sold and prizes are awarded by the outcome of the run. A standard raffle license covers a poker run, but the alternative drawing format means a license is always required (you can't use the two-raffle/under-$5,000 exemption for poker runs).

When in doubt about whether your fundraiser is a raffle, bingo, or some other regulated activity, contact the WSGC before selling a single ticket.

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4 critical compliance tips

Hosting a raffle can help you raise funds quickly and engage your community. Staying compliant with the Washington Gambling Act should be at the forefront of your mind so your earnings aren't interrupted by fines or costly penalties.

For the most up-to-date information, always check the Washington State Gambling Commission.

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1. Be proactive to simplify reporting

Accurate records help a lot, but they start long before your raffle. Set up a plan for where, how, and who will track raffle records. Real-time, detailed records help meet the WSGC's audit and reporting requirements and prevent errors that lead to fines or license suspension.

Record-keeping timelines to keep in mind:

• Unlicensed raffle records must be kept for one year.

• Licensed raffle records must be kept for three years.

WSGC-approved record-keeping forms ensure proper documentation, and staying on top of these reports also gets you ahead of federal income tax reporting.

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2. Conduct internal audits to detect issues

If something looks off, like missing ticket sales or unaccounted funds, the WSGC expects you to report it. Ignoring potential fraud or errors could lead to losing your license or even criminal charges.

Set a routine to check your records after every raffle. Make sure:

• Ticket sales match the money collected.

• All prizes were awarded and documented.

• Proceeds went where they were supposed to.

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3. Avoid unapproved raffles or side games

Letting anyone run an unapproved raffle, or allowing games like poker nights without proper authorization, can land your organization in serious trouble. Even if you aren't directly involved, allowing illegal activities on your premises can lead to felony charges for professional gambling.

Put a zero-tolerance policy in place and make sure everyone involved knows the rules.

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4. Keep raffle money in its own account

Mixing raffle money with other funds creates confusion and makes it harder to prove that proceeds went where they should. Mismanaging funds, even by accident, can lead to fraud accusations and put your organization's license at risk.

Set up a separate bank account for raffle proceeds where you can log:

• Every ticket sale

• Prize payouts

• Administrative costs and other expenses

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Washington raffle compliance checklist

Planning your raffle and keeping the requirements straight can feel overwhelming. Use this checklist as a quick reference before, during, and after your event.

Copy this checklist into your planning doc. The full statute references are linked above.

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Before the raffle

• Confirm your organization has been operating for at least 12 months.

• Verify your stated purpose qualifies under Washington raffle law (RCW 9.46.0321).

• Determine if a license is required based on number of raffles and expected gross revenue.

• If a license is needed, register with SAW and submit your WSGC application (allow up to 150 days).

• Pay the correct license fee based on expected gross receipts.

• Notify local law enforcement in writing before ticket sales begin (licensed raffles) or at least 5 days before the drawing (unlicensed raffles).

• Confirm all prizes are owned by the organization before the drawing.

• Get prior WSGC approval if any prize exceeds $40,000 in retail value.

• Review the ticket requirements and confirm all required information appears on your tickets: ticket price, drawing date, prize description, consecutive numbering.

• Set up a dedicated bank account for raffle proceeds.

• Brief all members who will sell tickets on the rules (members only, no online or phone sales).

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During the raffle

• Ensure only organization members sell tickets.

• Take payment in full at the point of sale, never on credit or an IOU. Confirm with the Washington State Gambling Commission which payment methods your licence allows before ticket day.

• Sell tickets at the same price to all participants (no discounts or complimentary tickets).

• Track all ticket sales in real time.

• Conduct the drawing according to WSGC requirements.

• Document all prizes awarded with winner information.

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After the raffle

• Reconcile ticket sales against funds collected.

• Document all prize payouts.

• Confirm proceeds are directed to your organization's stated purpose.

• File any required reports with the WSGC.

• Retain records for the required period (1 year for unlicensed raffles, 3 years for licensed).

• Complete WSGC-required training within 30 days if newly licensed.

This checklist is a practical summary, not a substitute for reading the full statutes. Always verify current requirements at wsgc.wa.gov.

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Can you use Zeffy to run online raffles in Washington?

No. Under a standard Washington raffle license, you cannot sell raffle tickets online. The WSGC is explicit that raffle tickets "cannot be sold over the Internet or telephone," and no fundraising platform, Zeffy included, changes that rule. The narrow Electronic Raffle License is not a workaround: it requires direct affiliation with a qualified sports team and must run during a home game.

Three questions decide how you run this. Are raffles legal in Washington? Yes, for qualified organizations, and no license at all is needed for two or fewer public raffles a year under $5,000 gross. Can you sell the tickets online? No, and it is a rule rather than a guideline: WAC 230-11-030(4)(a) says organizations must not "Sell raffle tickets via the internet". Can you sell them in person and take a card? Yes. WAC 230-06-035(3) lists cash, check, gift certificate, gift card and debit card as authorized payment methods, and subsection (6) says charitable and nonprofit organizations "may allow credit cards, issued by a state regulated or federally regulated financial institution, for payment to participate in raffles". So the raffle to plan for is the in-person one, sold by your own members, and the card is not what stands in the way.

What Zeffy CAN do for a Washington raffle:

• Sell raffle tickets in person, not online. WAC 230-11-030(4)(a) bars internet sales outright, so an in-person sale by your own members is the channel the rules contemplate. Washington also settles how the buyer may pay: WAC 230-06-035 authorizes cash, check, gift certificate, gift card and debit card, and subsection (6) lets charitable and nonprofit organizations accept credit cards issued by a regulated financial institution for raffle tickets. Two practical limits come with that. Only people aged 18 or over who are members, or volunteers a member supervises, may sell, so staff the table from your own membership. And the price has to be collected in full before the buyer takes part, so nothing goes out on a promise to pay later. Before you put any particular payment setup on a raffle table, describe it to the Washington State Gambling Commission and get their read on it.

• Record those in-person and paper ticket sales in your Zeffy dashboard, so you can track sellers, buyers, winners and totals for your WSGC records without ever selling online.

• Run a parallel donation form, an online fundraising channel that isn't raffle-ticket sales.

• Handle event ticketing for the fundraising night itself. When the raffle is drawn at a gala or event, Zeffy handles the event tickets even where it can't handle the raffle tickets.

• Newsletter and email tool for promoting the raffle, publishing rules, and announcing winners (channels Washington expressly allows).

• Free donor CRM to track members, ticket buyers, and prize winners in one place.

Zeffy is 100% free for nonprofits. No platform fee, no transaction fee, no credit card fee. Ever.

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FAQs about Washington State Raffle Laws

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