Football squares raffle rules in Colorado

Are charitable football raffles legal in Colorado?

Colorado allows charitable raffles, but your nonprofit needs a bingo-raffle license from the Secretary of State and must have existed for several years first.

Colorado's charitable raffles are governed by Colorado Bingo and Raffles Law. Regulator: Colorado Secretary of State — Bingo-Raffle Licensing.

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

Get a bingo-raffle license from the Colorado Secretary of State before selling tickets. The organization must operate without profit to its members and have existed continuously in Colorado for five years (a 2025 constitutional change, Amendment F, reduces this to three years — confirm the current requirement with the Secretary of State).

Licensed organizations file periodic activity reports with the Secretary of State.

Can you sell raffle tickets online in Colorado?

Colorado licenses and regulates raffles through the Secretary of State; sell tickets in person unless another method is permitted.

Who can run a charitable raffle in Colorado?

Bona fide religious, charitable, labor, fraternal, educational, voluntary firefighters', or veterans' organizations (and chartered branches/lodges) that operate without profit to members.

How do you stay compliant in Colorado?

• Get a bingo-raffle license from the Secretary of State before selling tickets.
• Meet Colorado's multi-year existence requirement (five years, moving toward three).
• Operate without profit to your members.
• File your activity reports with the Secretary of State.
• Use the proceeds for your organization's lawful charitable purposes.

Colorado doesn't advertise a single fixed percentage here, but proceeds must go to the organization's lawful charitable purposes and you report your activity to the Secretary of State.