Football squares raffle rules in California

Are charitable football raffles legal in California?

California lets registered eligible nonprofits run charitable raffles, but Penal Code §320.5 defines a raffle narrowly: the winners must be determined by a draw from the detached stubs of tickets that were actually sold. A football squares game that determines its winners from the game score does not meet that definition, so it does not qualify as a charitable raffle in California. To run one here, the winning tickets must be drawn — in person, supervised by an adult — rather than selected by the score. Get written legal advice before you sell a ticket.

California's charitable raffles are governed by California Penal Code §320.5. Regulator: California Department of Justice — Registry of Charitable Trusts.

Do you need to register to run a raffle in California?

Before holding a raffle, an eligible nonprofit must register with the California Attorney General's Registry of Charities and Fundraisers by filing form CT-NRP-1 and paying the registration fee. The raffle registration period runs January 1 through December 31, applications are due on or before January 1, and the Registry asks for the form at least 60 days before the raffle. A raffle season that crosses the year end falls in two registration periods and needs a registration for each.

The organization files an aggregate report of its raffles on form CT-NRP-2, due no later than February 1 for the registration period just ended.

Can you sell raffle tickets online in California?

California generally does not allow raffle tickets to be sold or bought online for standard charitable raffles — tickets are sold in person. (A separate law creates narrow exceptions for certain major-league sports raffles.) Buyers can still pay by cash, check, or card in person.

Who can run a charitable raffle in California?

Eligible tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that have been qualified to do business in California for at least one year — for example booster clubs, Knights of Columbus councils, parishes, and PTAs.

How do you stay compliant in California?

• Register before selling any tickets (form CT-NRP-1) — the period runs January 1 to December 31, and the Registry asks for the form at least 60 days before the raffle.
• Sell paper tickets in person — not online — each with a detachable stub carrying a unique, matching identifier.
• Determine the winners by drawing stubs detached from the tickets actually sold. Winners selected any other way — including by a game score — fall outside the statute's definition of a raffle.
• Direct at least 90% of the gross receipts to your charitable purpose, measured for each draw on its own.
• An adult age 18 or older must supervise the draw, and it must be conducted in California.
• File the annual raffle report (form CT-NRP-2) by February 1 for the registration period just ended.

California requires that at least 90% of a raffle's gross receipts go to the organization's beneficial or charitable purposes — no more than 10% may be used for other costs, and that 10% must cover printing, the filing fee, and everything else the raffle spends on itself. Funding prizes separately (donated, or paid by the group from other funds) rather than out of ticket sales is what makes the 90% reachable.