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.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about Florida raffle laws as of 2025. Laws change frequently. Always consult with legal counsel or the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for current requirements specific to your situation.
Florida Raffle Laws: Quick Facts
Who Can Hold Raffles:
Qualified charitable organizations
State Registration:
Required with FDACS
Local Permits:
May be required
Drawing Requirement:
Must be in Florida
Prize Limits:
$25,000 per drawing
Annual Limit:
$250,000 total prizes
Cash Prizes:
Prohibited
Real Estate:
Allowed with restrictions
Who Can Conduct Raffles in Florida?
Florida law restricts raffles (called "drawings" in statute) to qualified charitable organizations:
Eligible Organizations Must:
Be operated for charitable, civic, community, benevolent, religious, or scholastic purposes
Have 501(c)(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), or (19) tax-exempt status
Be registered with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Have been in existence for 3+ years
Have a current Solicitation of Contributions registration
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
Prize Limits:
Per drawing: Maximum $25,000 total value
Annual limit: $250,000 in total prizes
Cash prizes: Strictly prohibited
Merchandise: Must be owned by organization
Real property: Allowed if owned free and clear
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
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Conducting Your Drawing: Step-by-Step
Florida Drawing Compliance Checklist
Verify current FDACS registration
Check local permit requirements
Ensure all prizes are donated or already owned
Calculate total prize value (under $25,000)
Design tickets with required information
Set up Florida-based sales locations
Plan public drawing in Florida
Arrange for independent supervision
Prepare winner notification process
Set up record-keeping system
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
Maintain These Records for 3 Years:
Complete list of all ticket purchasers
Total number of tickets sold
Gross receipts from ticket sales
Itemized list of all operating expenses
Documentation of prize sources
Winners' names and contact information
Evidence of prize delivery
Copy of all advertising materials
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
Warning: Violations can result in criminal charges, fines up to $1,000, imprisonment up to 1 year, and loss of charitable registration.
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
Get Donations Early: Secure all prizes before advertising
Document Everything: Keep receipts for all donated items
Stay Local: Focus sales within your community
Be Transparent: Make drawing process completely public
Use Volunteers: Avoid any paid solicitors
Check Insurance: Ensure coverage for prize liability
Communicate Clearly: Make all rules and restrictions public
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.
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