SA raffle rules, permits & prize tips

Thinking about running a raffle in South Australia (SA)? This guide covers when you need a licence, minimum returns to your cause, ticket and advertising rules, witness/scrutineer requirements, how long you must hold unclaimed prizes, and what you must publish after the draw. It’s based on SA’s Lotteries Act 2019 and Lotteries Regulations 2021 plus current government guidance. As always, check the latest details before you launch. Make sure to check out the free RaffleRaise Compliance Checker to confirm your requirements, then launch your raffle online in minutes—payments, ticketing, T&Cs, draw tools, and winner notifications built-in.

At-a-glance rules (SA)

• Minor lotteries (total prize value ≤ $5,000)
  • No licence required.
  • Must follow “Minor lottery rules.”
  • At least 20% of gross proceeds must go to approved purposes; all net proceeds must go to the approved purpose.
• Major lotteries (total prize value > $5,000)
  • Licence required before you advertise or sell. Include the licence number on tickets and ads.
  • At least 35% of gross proceeds must go to the approved purpose; all net proceeds must go to the approved purpose.
  • Ads must state the licence number, prize nature/value, where to find full T&Cs, and the total number of tickets available.
• Instant lotteries (scratch/instant win)
  • Separate “Instant lottery” licence; instant lottery prizes are capped at $5,000 total by definition.
  • Minimum 20% of gross to approved purposes.
• Approved purposes (examples) include charitable, benevolent, community, sport/recreation, arts, animal welfare, environment/heritage, and more (full list in the regs).
• Children & ticket selling
  • Children under 15 may only sell tickets with adult supervision (and ticket book covers must include clear instructions).
    
    

Step-by-step: running your South Australian raffle

1) Confirm you’re eligible

Your organisation must be an “organisation” under the regs (incorporated association or qualifying unincorporated body) and conducting a fundraiser lottery (net proceeds applied to approved purposes).

2) Decide if you need a licence

• ≤ $5,000: Minor lottery—no licence needed (but you must follow the minor lottery rules, including the 20% minimum to purpose).
• >$5,000: Major lottery—get a licence before advertising and show the licence number on ads/tickets. Apply via SA.GOV.AU/CBS.

3) Choose compliant prizes

• Prizes must not include prohibited goods/services (for example: firearms, tobacco products, or cosmetic surgery/medical procedures primarily for appearance; and anything illegal to sell in SA)

4) Plan your budget & minimum return

• Minor: allocate ≥20% of gross proceeds to the approved purpose.
• Major: allocate ≥35% of gross proceeds to the approved purpose.
• In both cases, all net proceeds must be applied to the approved purpose(s).

5) Prepare your licence (if major)

• Submit your major lottery application before any advertising. Your ads must include: licence number, nature/value of prizes, where to access full T&Cs, and total number of tickets available. (RaffleRaise summarises these on your Raffle page and Tickets automatically.)

6) Write your rules & Terms

• Clearly set out who can enter, start/close dates, draw process, how winners are notified, and how unclaimed prizes are dealt with.
• Tip: RaffleRaise includes a ready-to-use T&Cs template you can populate with your raffle details. (Minor lotteries also have specific default rules you must follow.)

7) Build your tickets & sales page

• Major lotteries (>$5,000): Include your licence number on every ticket and in all advertising. Also state the prize(s) and retail value, where full Terms & Conditions can be found, and the total number of tickets available.
• All raffles (minor & major): Keep purchaser details for each ticket sold (name plus address/phone/email). Make the draw details and winner-notification method easy to find on your page.
• On RaffleRaise, these disclosures are built into the raffle setup and purchaser details are stored automatically for your records.

8) Promote responsibly

• Don’t advertise until your major licence is granted. Include the licence number in your advertising. Keep promotions accurate and consistent with your approved T&Cs.

9) Run the draw (witness/scrutineer rules)

• Draws must be by lot/chance and supervised by the licensee.
• If total prize value < $30,000: hold the draw in the presence of an independent person.
• If $30,000+: hold the draw in the presence of a scrutineer (e.g., JP/Commissioner for Affidavits/notary, or a person authorised by the Commissioner).
• Note on publishing winners: For major lotteries, publish winning ticket numbers for any prize valued over $250 within 30 days in the location stated in your T&Cs (e.g., your website).
• Tip: The RaffleRaise platform automatically notifies winners via email, and you can publish results to your page in one click.

10) Manage unclaimed prizes properly

• Unless your T&Cs specify another reasonable method, you must keep and preserve unclaimed prizes for at least:
  • 2 months (licensed major lotteries), or
  • 1 month (permitted minor lotteries).
• If your T&Cs do specify how unclaimed prizes are handled, they must still give winners a reasonable opportunity to claim.

11) Bank the proceeds & keep records

• For major lotteries, keep detailed records (tickets issued/sold/unsold, draw details, winners, distribution of prizes, unclaimed prizes, and the witnessing/scrutineer details). You must also lodge financial statements; audits apply at higher turnover (≥$100,000) with specific timing. RaffleRaise keeps a full digital audit trail and exportable reports.
  
  

Ready to run your SA raffle?

Use the free RaffleRaise Compliance Checker to confirm your requirements, then launch your raffle online in minutes—payments, ticketing, T&Cs, draw tools, and winner notifications built-in.


Version 1.0

Updated 1 September 2025