Football squares raffle rules in Georgia

Are charitable football raffles legal in Georgia?

Georgia defines a raffle broadly — “any scheme or procedure whereby one or more prizes are distributed by chance” (Code § 16-12-22.1) — and does not dictate how the winner is chosen, so a score-determined football squares game may fit. But raffles must be run on the organization’s own premises (which rules out online sales) and it may hold no more than one raffle a calendar day, which collides with same-day multi-game drawings. A county-sheriff license is required. Confirm the structure with counsel first.

Georgia's charitable raffles are governed by Official Code of Georgia §16-12-22.1. Regulator: your county sheriff (Georgia raffle law).

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

Before operating a raffle, a qualified nonprofit must apply to the sheriff of its county and be issued a license (annual fee $100). The organization must have existed for at least 24 months. Operating a raffle without a sheriff's license is treated as commercial gambling.

By April 15 each year, the organization files a report with the sheriff disclosing all receipts and expenditures from its raffles in the prior year.

Can you sell raffle tickets online in Georgia?

Georgia raffles are licensed and supervised locally and are generally sold in person; confirm any electronic sales with your county sheriff.

Who can run a charitable raffle in Georgia?

Nonprofit, tax-exempt churches, schools, and civic organizations, 501(c) organizations, and other bona fide nonprofits approved by the sheriff — including booster clubs, councils, parishes, and PTAs.

How do you stay compliant in Georgia?

• Get a raffle license from your county sheriff before selling tickets ($100/year).
• Meet the 24-month existence requirement.
• Sell tickets in person under the sheriff's supervision.
• File your annual receipts-and-expenditures report with the sheriff by April 15.
• Use the proceeds for your organization's charitable purposes.

Georgia doesn't set a fixed percentage, but raffle proceeds must support the nonprofit's charitable purposes, and you report receipts and expenditures to the sheriff each year.