Competitions, raffles, bingo and other charitable games

Art unions, raffles, bingo, lucky envelopes, Calcutta sweeps and promotional games (trade promotions or competitions) are regulated under the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999.

Under the Act, these different games are broken into categories, some of which require a licence.

Category 1 games

  • Includes raffles (art unions), sweeps, Calcutta sweeps, football doubles, lucky door prizes, bingo
  • Gross proceeds are not more than $2,000
  • The total value of prizes in any raffle must be at least 20% of the estimated gross proceeds (total ticket sales)
  • Can be conducted by a non-profit association and, in limited cases, an individual
  • Read the Guide to category 1 games up to $2000 (total ticket sales)
  • Does not require a licence

Category 2 games

  • Includes raffles, sweeps, Calcutta sweeps, football doubles, lucky door prizes, bingo
  • Gross proceeds of all games in a bingo session are more than $2,000 but not more than $20,000
  • For other games—the gross proceeds are more than $2,000 but not more than $50,000
  • The total value of prizes in any raffle must be at least 20% of the estimated gross proceeds (total ticket sales)
  • Can be conducted by an eligible non-profit association
  • If a club is an 'eligible association' it can conduct raffles up to $50,000 without any licence, permit or permit number. See section 10 of the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 for meaning of 'eligible association'
  • Read the Guide to category 2 games—Gross proceeds more than $2,000 but not more than $50,000 (total ticket sales)
  • Does not require a licence

Category 3 games

Special category 3 games

  • Must be a person intending to conduct a single art union for the welfare or benefit of individuals who need help because of a disaster or a disadvantaged individual
  • Gross proceeds are more than $5,000
  • Requires a special category 3 gaming licence

Category 4 promotional games (trade promotions)

  • These are free entry draws conducted to promote goods or services
  • Any person may conduct a promotional game; however, they are normally conducted by businesses to promote the sale of products
  • Read the Guide to category 4 promotional games
  • Does not require a licence

Bingo centres

  • A bingo centre is where 2 or more eligible associations conduct, between them, more than 25 bingo sessions each week
  • Requires a bingo centre licence

Lucky envelopes

  • Lucky envelopes are a type of pre-determined lottery. They are sold as 'break-open' type tickets where the correct combination of numbers/letters/pictures on the tickets produces a winner
  • Lucky envelopes can be conducted by an eligible association
  • An eligible association must not sell lucky envelopes unless the envelopes have been printed under a licence
  • Requires a lucky envelope printer licence

Tipping competitions

  • Can be conducted by an individual or an association
  • All proceeds must be returned to the players as prizes
  • Does not require a licence

Legislation

Charitable and non-profit gaming operates under the following legislation:

Licence applications and fact sheets

Download licence application forms, fact sheets and other resources related to charitable and non-profit gaming.

Resource manuals

Code of practice

Also consider...

  • Last reviewed: 23 Aug 2018
  • Last updated: 17 Dec 2019