Kid and adult at Crush Kids' Cancer eventRaffles are an easy way to add extra fun and fundraising to a guild event or gathering. This article provides a brief overview of two types of raffles that guilds are legally allowed to hold without a state license.

Before planning a raffle, please consult the Guild Association Raffle Activity Packet for more details. As a gambling activity, raffles are regulated by the Washington State Gambling Commission; for complete raffle laws, see the Raffle Activity Packet above.

A guild is eligible to conduct a raffle after operating as a guild for at least 12 months. There are two types of raffles that guilds can hold without obtaining a raffle license: public raffles and members-only raffles.

Public raffles

Guilds may hold two unlicensed public raffles in a calendar year. The combined gross revenue from the two raffles may not exceed $5,000 within that year.

Members-only raffles

A guild may also offer an unlimited number of members-only raffles, as long as the combined gross revenue from them does not exceed $5,000 in a calendar year. Members-only raffles may be held at a guild meeting or other gathering – with tickets sold and prizes awarded only to members and their guests. At a members-only raffle, at least ¾ of the total guests must be guild members.

By combining these two raffle options, an individual guild could raise up to $10,000 in gross revenue from raffles in a calendar year without a Washington state raffle license.

Questions?

Email or call the Guild Association at 206-987-2153.

Judy Gaffney (back row) with fellow guild members and Seattle Children’s patient mom Brianna Nettleton and her children at a guild event.

“We said yes to Seattle Children’s through a Choose Your Own Basket raffle during our Ladies Who Lunch event and raised more dollars for Strong Against Cancer than ever before!”

Judy Gaffney, co-founder and president, Clare Beckett Guild