Raffles for disadvantaged individuals (Special Category 3)

Eligibility and permit requirements

Queensland regulations allow raffles to be conducted on behalf of individuals who are disadvantaged or affected by a disaster. These raffles require a Special Category 3 permit.

Permit applications must be submitted to the Queensland Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) at least 28 days before the intended start date.

Duration

The maximum length for a Special Category 3 raffle is 4 months.

Financial rules

• Total gross proceeds from ticket sales cannot be more than 5x your total prize pool value

  • Example: If prizes value is $5,000, you cannot raise more than $25,000

  • Example: With 10,000 tickets at $3 each ($30,000 potential), you would need to reduce to 8,333 tickets to stay compliant

• Records of the raffle, including financial records, must be kept for a minimum of five years.

• A financial return must be submitted within two months of the raffle draw.

Prize rules

• Prize rules including prohibited prizes and certain items that require valuations follow standard Queensland regulations. See here for details: Prize Rules

• Prizes over $5000 in value must be insured until delivered to the winner

• Prizes must be delivered within 1 month of the raffle draw

Important:

Raffles of this type are only allowed to be conducted in Queensland - other state regulations do not permit raffles that benefit individuals under any circumstances.

Resources

The Special Category 3 game permit application form can be found here: Special Category 3 Permit Application (Form 2C)

Other resources relevant to Special Category 3 gaming licences can be found here: Special Category 3 gaming - Australian Business Licence and Information Service

A general guide to Category 3 games in Queensland can be found here: Category 3 Games (see pages 7-11 for Special Category 3 information)