50/50 raffles: how they work and the rules
Updated July 8, 2026
In a 50/50 raffle, everyone buys tickets into one pool, then a single ticket is drawn — the winner takes half the money raised and the cause keeps the other half. It's simple to run and popular at single events. Some states have specific 50/50 rules or exemptions, so check your state's charitable-raffle law.
How does a 50/50 raffle work?
Buyers purchase tickets that all go into one drawing. When it closes, one ticket is drawn at random: the holder wins half of the total money collected, and the other half goes to the cause. The more tickets sold, the bigger both halves get.
How is a 50/50 raffle different from football squares?
A 50/50 raffle has one winner from a single drawing and is usually tied to one event. Football squares uses a grid tied to a game's score, pays a winner at multiple points (each quarter, the half, the final), and a season-long squares raffle keeps going all season. Squares keeps supporters engaged longer; 50/50 is quick and simple.
Are there special rules for 50/50 raffles?
Sometimes. Because the prize is a share of ticket sales rather than a set prize, some states treat 50/50 raffles differently — a few offer a small-raffle exemption for members-only 50/50s, and some professional-sports 50/50s run under their own laws. Check how your state handles 50/50 raffles before you start.
Frequently asked questions
How does a 50/50 raffle work?
Everyone buys tickets into one pool; one ticket is drawn and the winner takes half the money raised, with the other half going to the cause.
How is the winner's share calculated?
It's half of the total ticket sales — so the prize grows as more tickets are sold, and it isn't known until sales close.
Do 50/50 raffles have different rules?
In some states, yes. A few offer exemptions for small or members-only 50/50s, and some are governed by separate professional-sports laws. Check your state's charitable-raffle rules.
Keep reading
- How do football squares work?A plain-English guide to football squares: the 10×10 grid, how the numbers are drawn, how winners are decided by the score, and how a squares raffle raises money for a nonprofit.
- Season-long football squares vs one-game poolsThe difference between a one-game football squares pool and a season-long squares raffle — and why one ticket that plays every week raises more for your cause.
- Do you need a license to run a football squares fundraiser?Whether you need a license or permit to run a football squares raffle depends on your state — some require registration, some let small raffles run license-free, and a few ban paid raffles. Here's how to find out.
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