A raffle is a gaming scheme where ticket purchasers pay for a chance to win a prize through a random draw of tickets purchased.

Only eligible charitable organizations currently registered with AGLC may obtain a licence to conduct a raffle.

The different categories of raffle licence are:

• Raffles with a total ticket value $20,000 and less: AGLC determines eligibility and the charitable group obtains its licence(s) online with an AGLC web account or through an Alberta registry agent.
• Raffles with a total ticket value more than $20,000: the charitable group submits an application to AGLC a minimum eight weeks prior to the start of ticket sales for the licence.

Total ticket value (TTV) is the total dollar value of all available tickets in a raffle. To calculate total ticket value, multiply the price(s) of the ticket(s) by the number of tickets for sale (e.g. 5,000 tickets at $20 each equals a total ticket value of $100,000.)

• Traditional raffles require a two-part ticket on which the ticket purchaser's name and contact information is recorded. Tickets are sold for a period of time (days, weeks, months) prior to the draw. The overall value of the prizes (cash or merchandise) must be a minimum of 20% of the total ticket value of the licence.
• 50/50 raffles (percentage draw raffles) may only be conducted during a specific entertainment event (e.g. sports) where ticket sales, the draw, and announcement of the winner occur on the same day. The cash prize is the percentage of the gross ticket revenue.
• Progressive raffles (e.g. Chase the Ace) is a scheme where tickets are sold for a random chance to win an event prize and where the winner of the event prize also has a chance to win a progressive prize. While a progressive raffle may be conducted without limit, a charitable organization may not exceed the total ticket value of the raffle licence for which it has been approved.
  • A progressive raffle may be conducted using paper tickets or electronic components for online ticket sales and distribution, and a random number generator to select the even prize winner. A random number generator may not be used to select the progressive prize winner, which must only be selected through a manual draw.

Prize Options
Prizes for raffles where tickets are sold over a period of days (e.g. some traditional raffles) may not be based on a percentage of ticket sales (as is possible for percentage draw raffles). If a charitable group wishes to offer a percentage of ticket sales as the prize, the group must still guarantee a minimum prize that is 20 per cent of the total ticket value of the raffle along with the option of a percentage of the ticket sales, whichever is greater. These options must be identified on the raffle ticket.

Any organization registered with AGLC may conduct a raffle online with the use of an approved electronic raffle system to: 

• Accept ticket orders and payment;
• distribute tickets (e.g. email);
• use a random number generator to select the prize winner(s); and
• distribute prizes.

Prior to being used in a raffle, all electronic raffle system software and equipment must be:

• Certified by an accredited testing facility;
• compliant with the AGLC Electronic Raffle System Document; and
• approved by AGLC.

Licensed charitable organizations can contact AGLC for confirmation.

Additional raffle policy information is at www.aglc.ca:

• Raffle Terms and Conditions

Visit our Financial reporting for charities page for more information.