Verdict: Charitable raffles are legal in Ohio for qualified nonprofits, and no raffle permit is required. But the statute is silent on end-to-end online ticket sales, and the Ohio AG's Charitable Law Section has treated some online arrangements as violations.
What works: Qualified 501(c)(3)s keep 100% of net proceeds. Chapter 2915 sets no prize cap on a raffle. Keep three years of records for every raffle.
What doesn't: Selling tickets fully online without first describing your setup to the AG's Charitable Law Section. The AG's published position is that many of the online raffle tools now on the market "are not legal in the state of Ohio". Statutory silence is not a green light.
Right fit when: Your org qualifies as a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), 501(c)(19), or qualifying school running raffles for a charitable purpose. If your fundraising plan depends on end-to-end digital drawings, Ohio does not clearly authorize them today. Build for an offline drawing, sell tickets in person, and monitor HB 476.
Raffles are one of the most popular small-nonprofit fundraisers in Ohio, and qualified organizations can run them without a permit. But Ohio's raffle statute has quiet corners that trip up well-meaning boards every year, and the Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Law Section has treated some online arrangements as violations under current law. This guide walks through what Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 2915.092 actually says, what the AG has done in practice, where House Bill 476 stands, and the safest way for a small nonprofit to run a raffle right now.
Below, you'll learn more about:
Ohio raffle rules at a glance
Before diving into the details, here's a quick-reference summary of the most important Ohio raffle rules for nonprofits.
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| Eligible org types | 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), 501(c)(19), qualifying schools (school districts, community, STEM, chartered nonpublic, college-preparatory boarding) |
| Raffle permit required? | No. Qualified organizations can conduct raffles without a formal permit. |
| Prize limits | None. Chapter 2915 sets no prize cap for a raffle. The one prize ceiling in the chapter, $6,000 per session under ORC 2915.09(C)(5), applies to bingo games described in ORC 2915.01(O)(1), not to raffles. |
| Profit allocation, 501(c)(3) | 100% of net proceeds may be retained for a charitable purpose |
| Profit allocation, other qualifying nonprofits | At least 50% of net profit must go to a qualified charitable purpose |
| Recordkeeping duration | 3 years after the event (ORC 2915.10) |
| Age to purchase tickets | Chapter 2915 sets no age limit on buying a raffle ticket. Its under-18 bars cover instant bingo (ORC 2915.091(A)(7)) and bingo games described in ORC 2915.01(O)(1) (ORC 2915.09(C)(12)), and a raffle is neither. That is an absence of a rule, not a permission, so check it with counsel. |
| Age to sell tickets | 18 or older at the raffle site. ORC 2915.11(A) requires a "bingo game operator" to be eighteen or older, and ORC 2915.01(Q) counts "selling raffle tickets" at the site as that work. |
| Online ticket sales | The statute is silent. The Ohio AG's Charitable Law Section oversees drawings and has treated some fully online arrangements as violations. Describe your specific setup to that office before selling tickets online. |
| Dedicated raffle account | Good practice, and possibly required. ORC 2915.10(C) imposes it for games that include raffles, but ORC 2915.10(A) scopes the section to licensed-bingo and festival conductors. Keep raffle money in its own account either way. |
Use this table as a quick compliance check before planning each event. For a small nonprofit: the two rules that matter most day to day are the dedicated account and the three-year records duty. Everything else is easier to get right than it looks.
The full overview of Ohio raffle laws
Ohio Revised Code Section 2915.092 governs charitable raffles. Qualified organizations can host their events without a formal raffle license as long as raffle proceeds benefit a charitable purpose.
Who can conduct a raffle?
To conduct a raffle legally in Ohio, your organization must meet one of the following:
- Be a 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19) organization
- Be a school district, community school, STEM school, chartered nonpublic school, or a college-preparatory boarding school
Any 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), or 501(c)(7) organization must ensure that at least 50% of the net proceeds go to a qualified charitable purpose or a government entity.
What ORC 2915.092 says (and doesn't say) about online sales
Here's the part that trips up many boards. ORC 2915.092 sets out which organizations may run a raffle without a bingo license, the penalties for illegal conduct, and the 50% net-profit-to-charity rule for the non-501(c)(3) groups above. It contains no blanket ban on online sales and says nothing about how a buyer may pay.
The receptacle requirement is real, but it lives in the definition rather than in 2915.092. ORC 2915.01(CC), effective September 30 2025, defines a raffle as a form of bingo and adds: "The one or more winners of the raffle are determined by drawing a ticket stub or other detachable section from a receptacle containing ticket stubs or detachable sections corresponding to all tickets sold for the raffle." Read the last five words closely. The receptacle has to hold a stub for every ticket sold, which is the real obstacle to running an Ohio raffle end to end online, and it is better grounded than any argument about the sales channel itself. The Attorney General, a state appellate court and the Legislature's own bill analyst all describe Ohio law this way.
Statutory silence is not a green light. The Ohio Attorney General is Ohio's designated charity regulator, and its Charitable Gaming page answers this question directly. Asked whether a charity may host online raffles, it replies that "Many of the new online tools that are readily available are not legal in the state of Ohio and constitute violations of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2915," and that "raffles cannot be conducted online using a random number generator to select a winner. Raffle winners need to be drawn from a receptacle containing detachable sections representing all of the tickets sold." That is the posture you have to plan around, not a rule you can find in the raffle section. Before you sell a ticket online, describe your specific setup to the AG's Charitable Law Section (contact information on ohioago.gov/charitable) and get their read.
For a small nonprofit: if end-to-end online sales are core to your plan, the statute does not authorize them and the AG has acted against some online arrangements. Draw offline, sell in person, and monitor HB 476.
Financial reporting and recordkeeping
Ohio has strict reporting requirements. Under ORC 2915.10, records must include:
- Gross receipts and itemized expenses
- List of all raffle prizes awarded (service, merchandise, and cash prizes)
- Net profit distribution details, including recipient names and addresses
- Number of participants and inventory of raffle supplies
- Name of the manufacturer of the supplies
Records must be kept for three years after the event, at the organization's principal place of business or headquarters in Ohio, and the Ohio Attorney General must be notified of the storage location.
Zeffy's free donor CRM is a natural home for the three years of records ORC 2915.10 requires. Ticket sales, buyer contact history, itemized totals, and auto tax receipts all live in one place so an audit finds what it needs the first time.
For a small nonprofit: the recordkeeping duty is the single most common way to lose your ability to run future raffles, and it is also the easiest one to fix. Pick a system and put every ticket in it from day one.
Age restrictions
Ohio's age rule for raffles is not in the raffle section, which is why it is easy to miss. It comes from the definition of a "bingo game operator" at ORC 2915.01(Q), which covers "any person, except security personnel, who performs work or labor at the site of bingo, including, but not limited to," a list that expressly includes "selling raffle tickets, selecting raffle tickets from a receptacle and announcing the winning numbers in a raffle."
- Selling tickets: ORC 2915.11(A) is flat: "No person shall be a bingo game operator unless he is eighteen years of age or older." So a volunteer under 18 should not be working the ticket table at the raffle or running the drawing. Give them a job that is not part of conducting the raffle.
- Purchasing tickets: Chapter 2915 sets no age limit on buying a raffle ticket. The under-18 purchase bar at ORC 2915.091(A)(7) is written for instant bingo, and the under-18 play bar at ORC 2915.09(C)(12) is written for bingo games described in ORC 2915.01(O)(1). A raffle is neither, so neither reaches it. That is an absence of a rule rather than a permission, so confirm it with your counsel before you sell to a minor.
Use of profits
Deposit gross profits from each raffle into a dedicated checking account used exclusively for the raffle. Payments for expenses and net profit distributions can only be made by checks or electronic fund transfers from that account.
- 501(c)(3) organizations: May retain 100% of the net proceeds.
- Other qualifying nonprofits: Must allocate at least 50% of the net profit to a qualified charitable purpose.
Good to know: Only prizes paid out may be deducted as expenses. Other costs (rent, equipment, supplies) must be paid from other funds.
Event and location requirements
Raffles may be held at businesses, private homes, or public spaces, as long as a qualified charitable organization is hosting and the event complies with the rules above.
Audits
The Attorney General may adopt rules on accounting, recordkeeping, and reporting, and may at any time:
- Investigate charitable organizations, distributors, and manufacturers
- Examine accounts and records
- Conduct audits, inspections, and observations of raffles and related premises
Ohio raffle ticket design requirements
Selling tickets is the engine of every raffle, and Ohio law also regulates what has to appear on those tickets. Under ORC 2915.092, each raffle ticket must include specific information to be considered valid.
What must appear on every ticket
- The name of the charitable organization conducting the raffle
- The date of the raffle drawing
- A description of each prize to be awarded
- The total number of tickets available for that drawing (if a fixed quantity is used)
These fields protect participants and protect your organization. If a ticket is challenged by a winner, a donor, or an auditor, having every required field printed clearly is your first line of defense.
Physical vs. digital tickets
Ohio's raffle statute was written with physical tickets in mind. If you issue digital confirmations for any in-person purchases, make sure the confirmation email or PDF includes every field above, plus a unique identifier for each ticket you can match against your drawing records. Keep a copy of every ticket issued as part of your three-year ORC 2915.10 duty.
Ticket bundles and pricing disclosures
If you offer bundles (say, five tickets for $20 instead of $5 each), the per-ticket value still needs to be clear. Bundled offers are permitted, but the prize descriptions and drawing date must appear on each ticket or on the bundle confirmation, depending on your format.
For a small nonprofit: ticket design is an easy afternoon of work that saves a hard audit later. Get it right once and reuse the template every year.
Penalties and enforcement
Running a raffle outside Ohio's rules is not just a paperwork problem. The Ohio Revised Code sets out real consequences, and the Attorney General's office has the authority to enforce them.
Criminal penalties under ORC 2915.02
Conducting an illegal raffle in Ohio, meaning a raffle that does not meet the qualified-organization requirements or otherwise violates ORC 2915.092, can be charged as a criminal offense under Ohio's gambling statute, ORC 2915.02.
- A first offense is generally classified as a first-degree misdemeanor. Sentencing authority for that class sits in ORC 2929.28 (financial sanctions) and ORC 2929.24 (jail terms).
- A second or subsequent offense may be elevated to a fifth-degree felony. Sentencing authority for that class sits in ORC 2929.14.
For the current fine ceilings and prison terms tied to those classifications, consult the sentencing sections above with your attorney before publishing prize amounts or planning your event.
Civil and administrative consequences
Beyond criminal exposure, the Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Law Section can take civil and administrative action against organizations that violate charitable gaming rules. That includes:
- Ordering repayment of improperly used funds
- Revoking the organization's ability to conduct future raffles or other charitable gaming
- Requiring corrective audits at the organization's expense
- Public disclosure of enforcement actions, which can damage donor trust
Organizations that fail to maintain the required three years of records face independent liability under ORC 2915.10, even when the raffle was otherwise run correctly.
What the AG's office looks for
The AG's Charitable Law Section conducts scheduled and surprise inspections. Auditors commonly check that raffle proceeds are held in a separate dedicated account, that prize winners are properly documented (especially those receiving $600 or more), and that net profit distributions went to qualifying charitable purposes in the right proportions.
The safest approach is to treat every raffle as if an audit is already on the calendar. Keep your records current, your dedicated account clean, and your documentation organized.
For a small nonprofit: the penalty framework exists, but the more realistic risk is the civil track (repayment, loss of future raffle privileges, corrective audits at your expense). Those show up faster and hit smaller orgs harder.
Common legal pitfalls and how to avoid them
1. Forgetting to track raffles thoroughly
Imagine your nonprofit hosts an annual holiday raffle where you raise $15,000 and celebrate a successful event. Six months later, the Ohio Attorney General's office requests an audit. No one kept a detailed record of ticket sales, winners, or expenses.
ORC 2915.10 requires that all gross receipts, expenses, prize winners (especially those receiving $600 or more), and net profit distributions be documented and kept for three years. Without those records, your organization risks penalties, fines, and loss of raffle privileges.
2. Mixing raffle money with general funds
Imagine your treasurer deposits $10,000 in spring raffle ticket sales into the general account to keep things simple. A few months later, an internal review shows some of those dollars were used for unrelated operating expenses.
ORC 2915.10(C) requires a dedicated checking account for games that include raffles, though whether it reaches an unlicensed 501(c)(3) raffle is unsettled (ORC 2915.10(A) scopes the section to licensed-bingo and festival conductors). Keep raffle proceeds in a separate account regardless, and pay every expense, even a small one, by check or electronic fund transfer from that account.
3. Underage ticket sales
Imagine enthusiastic high school volunteers helping sell raffle tickets at your annual gala. ORC 2915.01(Q) treats selling raffle tickets at the site as the work of a "bingo game operator", and ORC 2915.11(A) requires an operator to be eighteen or older. So keep under-18 volunteers off the ticket table and away from the drawing, and give them a role that sits outside the raffle itself.
4. Assuming statutory silence means online is fine
Imagine you broaden your next raffle by selling tickets entirely online to increase participation. The event is a hit. Then a complaint reaches the AG's office and you learn the Charitable Law Section has treated some fully online arrangements as violations under current law.
The Ohio AG's Charitable Law Section has treated some fully online raffle arrangements as violations. Statutory silence is not a green light. Describe your specific setup to the AG before selling tickets online, and consider drawing offline until HB 476 (or a successor) is enacted.
Ohio House Bill 476: The pending law that could change everything for nonprofit raffles
Ohio nonprofit leaders running raffles have been watching Columbus closely, and for good reason. House Bill 476, introduced in the Ohio General Assembly, proposes to legalize fully online raffles for charitable organizations in Ohio. If passed, it would represent the most significant shift in Ohio raffle law in decades, and it directly affects how your nonprofit can sell tickets, reach donors, and run its fundraising events.
Here's what you need to know right now.
What House Bill 476 would change
Under current Ohio law, ORC 2915.092 does not address online ticket sales at all. The statute is silent on the question. That silence has real consequences: the Ohio Attorney General's published position is that many of the online raffle tools now on the market are not legal in Ohio and violate chapter 2915. HB 476 exists precisely to close that gap.
HB 476 would explicitly authorize licensed charitable organizations to conduct raffles entirely online, including:
- Online ticket sales directly to supporters anywhere in Ohio
- Digital ticket delivery without a physical component
- Remote winner selection and notification, eliminating the requirement for an in-person drawing in many circumstances
This would bring Ohio in line with a growing number of states that have already modernized their charitable gaming statutes to reflect how donors actually behave today.
Current status of HB 476
House Bill 476 has been introduced in the Ohio General Assembly and has generated significant attention from nonprofit advocacy groups, including LeadingAge Ohio, which has actively supported the bill on behalf of its member organizations. The bill has not yet been signed into law. Legislative timelines in Ohio can shift, so nonprofits should monitor current status through the official Ohio Legislature bill tracker for HB 476 and through their sector's advocacy networks.
We update this section as the bill progresses. Bookmark this page or check back before your next raffle planning cycle.
How Ohio nonprofits should prepare now
Waiting until the bill passes to start planning puts your organization behind. Here's how to get ready:
- 1. Audit your current raffle process. Document every step: ticket sales, recordkeeping, prize disclosures, drawing procedures. Knowing your baseline makes any transition faster and less risky.
- 2. Confirm your charitable gaming standing is current. HB 476 is expected to apply to organizations already in good standing under Ohio charitable gaming rules. Lapsed paperwork could delay your ability to take advantage of new rules on day one.
- 3. Evaluate your online raffle platform. Not every raffle tool is built with Ohio's records duty in mind. Look for platforms that generate proper audit trails, issue tickets with unique identifiers, and can produce the reporting documentation Ohio's Attorney General may require.
- 4. Talk to your legal counsel. The final text of HB 476 may include specific recordkeeping, prize-cap, or eligibility requirements that differ from the introduced draft.
- 5. Watch for implementing guidance. If HB 476 passes, the Ohio Attorney General's office will likely issue guidance. Subscribe to AG office updates so you don't miss early compliance deadlines.
The organizations that thrive after HB 476 passes, if it does, will be the ones that treat the waiting period as preparation time, not downtime.
For a small nonprofit: the honest verdict on HB 476 is "possible, not certain, watch the tracker." Don't build your fundraising plan around a bill that has not been signed. Use the waiting period to tighten your records and your process.
3 pro tips for successful raffle management in Ohio
Now that we're clear on what to avoid, let's talk about how to run a raffle your board will want to repeat.
1. Set clear goals and rules
Start with the basic questions:
- Are you raising money for a specific program?
- How are you covering operational costs?
- How will you promote the raffle?
- Where will the physical drawing take place?
- Will you sell tickets in person, online, or both (and if online, have you talked to the AG)?
Set a measurable goal, like "We're aiming to raise $10,000 to fund new equipment for our after-school program." Print your rules on every ticket and post them on your site: ticket count limits, age rules, payment options, and how prizes are claimed.
Bonus tip: Add a short FAQ on your site covering ticket purchases, eligibility, and prize claims.
2. Promote your raffle strategically
A well-run raffle needs visibility. Word-of-mouth alone rarely gets you to goal.
- Lean on social media: post behind-the-scenes content, countdowns, and testimonials. A Facebook event page helps with reminders.
- Use email marketing: send targeted updates to your donor list with success stories and a clear next step.
- Tap community partnerships: ask local schools, community centers, and peer nonprofits to share your raffle in their channels.
Bonus tip: Consider a referral program where supporters who sell the most tickets get a small incentive or recognition at the event.
3. Build in financial accountability
Ohio's rules require strict financial tracking. Mismanagement erodes donor trust and jeopardizes future fundraising.
- Open a dedicated raffle account. Never mix raffle proceeds with general funds. A separate account keeps every transaction traceable.
- Use a free donor CRM. Track ticket sales, participants, and prize records in one place. Nonprofit financial statements get easier when your source data lives in one system.
- Track ticket sales daily. Assign one person to own the sales log and reconcile it against the account.
Bonus tip: Schedule a mid-campaign check-in with your treasurer to confirm records match the account.
Can you use Zeffy to run online raffles in Ohio?
Not for end-to-end online raffles under current Ohio law. ORC 2915.092 is silent on online ticket sales, and the Ohio Attorney General's published position is that many of the online raffle tools now on the market are not legal in Ohio. HB 476 would change that, but until the Senate acts, we don't recommend using any platform, Zeffy included, to sell raffle tickets over the internet in Ohio. Before you do anything online, call the AG's Charitable Law Section (contact information on ohioago.gov/charitable) and describe your specific setup.
Two questions decide how you run this. Are raffles legal in Ohio? Yes, for qualified organizations, and no raffle permit is required. Can you sell the tickets online? ORC 2915.092 does not say, and the AG's Charitable Law Section has treated some online arrangements as violations, so the workable plan is promote online, transact offline.
Here's what you can use Zeffy for on an Ohio raffle right now. Zeffy is free: no platform fee, no transaction fee, no credit card fee. Ever.
- Sell raffle tickets in person at your live drawing event. Ohio's own definition of a raffle at ORC 2915.01(CC) is built around a physical ticket whose stub goes into the receptacle, so an in-person sale is the shape the statute contemplates. What is not settled is whether you may take a card for that ticket. Nothing in ORC chapter 2915 addresses how a raffle ticket buyer may pay. Not the raffle section, not the definitions, not any of the chapter's 24 sections, and not the Attorney General's own charitable-gaming rules either. Silence is not a permission and it is not a prohibition. It means there is no authority to point to in either direction, which is why we make no card recommendation for an Ohio raffle ticket, and why choosing a different card reader would not change that. Two things would settle it: House Bill 476 becoming law, or the Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Law Section telling you in writing that your specific setup is acceptable. That office is the one to ask, and it is the same one you clear online arrangements with.
- Keep three years of raffle records: gross receipts, itemized expenses, prize records, and participant logs, held in and exportable from Zeffy's free donor CRM. ORC 2915.10 sets the duty; retention and reporting stay with the organization.
- Email supporters when HB 476 status changes and send follow-ups to ticket buyers using free newsletter and email tools.
One Ohio question to settle before you take any raffle payment electronically, and it is genuinely open. ORC 2915.10(C) requires the gross profit from each game described in ORC 2915.01(O)(1) or (2) to be deposited into "a checking account devoted exclusively to the bingo session or game", and (O)(2) does include raffles. But ORC 2915.10(A) scopes that section to an organization conducting bingo or a game of chance "pursuant to division (D) of section 2915.02", and 2915.02(D) reaches only licensed bingo, five-day festival games of chance, and tag fishing tournaments. A 501(c)(3) running a raffle under ORC 2915.092 without a bingo license is none of those. So whether the dedicated-account duty binds your raffle is a question for your counsel, not one we can answer for you. Here is the mechanic on Zeffy either way, so you can describe it accurately rather than guess: the funds are held by Stripe in your own organization's Stripe account, and then pay out to the bank account your organization nominates. They do not sit in a Zeffy-controlled balance. Put the flow to the Charitable Law Section alongside your online question.
Zeffy does not verify buyer age or confirm presence at the drawing site, and there is no winner-drawing step inside a Zeffy raffle checkout. We do publish a free online raffle generator on our blog, separate from the raffle form. Note that Ohio defines a raffle at 2915.01(CC) as drawing a stub from a receptacle holding stubs for all tickets sold, so check any drawing method against that before you use it. The call to the AG's Charitable Law Section is yours to make.
Ohio raffle FAQs
Are 50/50 raffles legal in Ohio?
Yes. A 50/50 raffle is legal in Ohio for qualified organizations, along with other raffle formats. A 50/50 awards a prize equal to half the amount raised and can drive higher ticket counts because the prize grows as sales grow. The same rules on eligible org types, prize caps, dedicated account, and three-year records apply.
Is a raffle considered gambling in Ohio?
charitable raffle run by a qualified organization is not treated as gambling under Ohio's charitable gaming framework. You do not need a raffle permit if your organization qualifies under ORC 2915.092. Commercial gambling activities (state lottery, horse racing, casinos) are regulated separately, in part through the Ohio Lottery Commission. Rules differ across the country: see 501(c)(3) raffle laws by state for a summary.
Do raffles count as donations?
For the nonprofit's side, raffle proceeds are treated as fundraising income the organization can use for its charitable purpose (100% for a 501(c)(3), at least 50% net to charitable purpose for the other qualifying c-types). For the buyer's side, money spent on raffle tickets is not deductible as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes. Automate donation tax receipts for the donation portion of your fundraising with Zeffy's 100% free platform.
What's the difference between a raffle and a drawing?
The key difference is the entry requirement. A raffle sells tickets: participants pay for a chance to win. A drawing typically does not require a purchase. Both are legal for nonprofits in Ohio, but only the raffle format falls under ORC 2915.092.
Can I raffle alcohol, firearms, vehicles, or real estate in Ohio?
Alcohol: You can raffle alcohol in Ohio under specific rules. The Ohio General Assembly requires alcohol prizes to be purchased through a state-licensed agent. Beer and wine require receipts showing the purchase came from an Ohio agent with the proper permits. High-proof liquor requires an advance form and uploaded receipts to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control. Ohio liquor permit holders and state liquor agencies are prohibited from donating.
Firearms: You can raffle a firearm in Ohio, but the transfer must comply with federal law. The winner must complete a background check through a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL). Your organization cannot hand a firearm directly to a winner. Confirm the process with your attorney before listing a firearm as a prize.
Vehicles: Vehicles are permissible, and chapter 2915 sets no cap on what a raffle prize may be worth. Vehicle prizes may still trigger IRS reporting for the winner when the value exceeds $600.
Real estate: Real estate prizes are legally complex and should not be offered without guidance from an attorney familiar with Ohio property law and charitable gaming regulations. Transfer taxes, title issues, and fair market value questions all create risk. Most organizations use an independent appraisal and escrow arrangement to keep the transfer clean.
High-value prizes in general: Any prize valued at $600 or more requires you to collect the winner's name, address, and taxpayer identification number for IRS Form W-2G or 1099 reporting. Build that into your winner notification process so you're not chasing documentation after the event.
Read more details across Ohio state legislation referenced in this article:
* ORC 2915.092: Illegal conduct of a raffle
* ORC 2915.10: Bingo records retention (applies to raffles)
* ORC 2915.01: Gambling definitions
* ORC 2915.02: Gambling penalties
* Ohio AG Charitable Law Section
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