Florida Raffle Laws: Complete Legal Guide for Nonprofits

Florida allows charitable organizations to conduct drawings and raffles under specific regulations. This comprehensive guide covers everything nonprofits need to know about running legal raffles in the Sunshine State, including permit requirements, prize restrictions, and compliance procedures.

Who Can Conduct Raffles in Florida?

Florida law restricts raffles (called "drawings" in statute) to qualified charitable organizations:

Registration Requirements

Before conducting any raffle, organizations must:

• Register with FDACS Division of Consumer Services
• File form FDACS-10101 annually
• Pay registration fees based on contributions received
• Submit financial reports if required

Florida Drawing/Raffle Rules

Prize Restrictions

Drawing Requirements

• Must be conducted in Florida
• Must be open to the public
• Winner need not be present
• Cannot require additional payment to claim prize
• Must award all advertised prizes

Prohibited Activities

• No cash prizes: All prizes must be merchandise or property
• No purchased prizes: Cannot buy items specifically for raffle
• No online sales: Internet ticket sales prohibited
• No out-of-state sales: All sales must occur in Florida
• No professional fundraisers: Cannot hire to conduct raffle

Conducting Your Drawing: Step-by-Step

Required Ticket Information

Each ticket must clearly display:

• Name of the charitable organization
• Address of the organization
• Source of prizes (donated/owned)
• Date, time, and location of drawing
• Retail value of prizes
• Statement that winner need not be present
• Statement that no purchase necessary (if applicable)

Local Permits

Many Florida counties and cities require additional permits:

• Check with local government before proceeding
• Common in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach counties
• May have additional restrictions or fees
• Often require separate reporting

Financial Management & Reporting

Use of Proceeds

Florida requires that drawing proceeds benefit charitable purposes:

• Must use for organization's stated charitable mission
• Cannot benefit private individuals
• Administrative costs should be reasonable
• Must maintain detailed financial records

Record Keeping Requirements

Annual Reporting

Organizations must file annual reports with FDACS including:

• IRS Form 990 (if required)
• Financial statements
• Details of all drawings conducted
• Use of funds raised

Special Considerations for Florida

Alternative Methods

Florida allows these alternative drawing methods:

• Duck races: Rubber duck "races" with random selection
• Cow chip bingo: Grid-based random selection events
• Ball drops: Numbered balls dropped for random selection
• All must follow same prize and registration rules

Multi-Chapter Organizations

• Each chapter needs separate registration
• Cannot combine drawings between chapters
• Parent organization cannot conduct for chapters

Joint Drawings

Multiple organizations can partner if:

• Each organization is separately qualified
• Written agreement specifies profit division
• All organizations listed on tickets
• Each maintains required records

Common Violations and Penalties

Common Violations

• Offering cash prizes
• Exceeding prize value limits
• Selling tickets online or out of state
• Conducting drawings without registration
• Using professional fundraisers
• Purchasing prizes for the drawing
• Failing to conduct drawing as advertised

Best Practices for Florida Drawings

1. Get Donations Early: Secure all prizes before advertising
2. Document Everything: Keep receipts for all donated items
3. Stay Local: Focus sales within your community
4. Be Transparent: Make drawing process completely public
5. Use Volunteers: Avoid any paid solicitors
6. Check Insurance: Ensure coverage for prize liability
7. Communicate Clearly: Make all rules and restrictions public

Make Your Florida Drawing a Success

While Florida's regulations are strict—particularly the prohibition on cash prizes and purchased items—charitable drawings remain an effective fundraising tool. Success comes from careful planning, securing quality donated prizes, and maintaining full compliance with state and local requirements.

Remember that Florida uses the term "drawing" rather than "raffle" in its statutes, but the concepts are the same. Focus on transparency, proper registration, and detailed record-keeping to ensure your drawing is both successful and compliant.