Queensland

In Queensland, larger raffles are Category 3 games (art unions) under the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act, overseen by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR).

Who can run one

A Category 3 art union can only be run by an incorporated eligible association — a charitable, community, educational, religious, or sporting body (or a P&C, or a registered political party). Individuals generally can't, with one narrow exception: a special Category 3 licence lets an individual run a single raffle for disaster victims or a disadvantaged person.

When you need a licence

• A Category 3 licence is required once a raffle's gross proceeds exceed $50,000 in total ticket sales (or over $5,000 under a special licence). Below that, you fall into a lower category with lighter rules.
• A standard Category 3 licence runs 1 year; a special licence, 4 months.

Prize rules worth knowing

• Cash prizes are capped at $100,000. 🔴
• Alcohol may only be a prize if its retail value is $1,000 or less. 🔴
• Prohibited prizes: surgery, tobacco, weapons or ammunition, and anything legally restricted.
• Minimum prize floor: total prize value must be at least 20% of estimated gross proceeds. 🔴 (Easy to miss if your prizes are modest relative to ticket revenue.)
• Insurance: any single prize worth over $5,000 must be insured from when tickets go on sale until it's delivered.
• Some prize types (land, vehicles, animals, valuables) require specific valuations and certificates for the winner.

The draw and tickets

• A raffle must be drawn within 1 year of the day ticket sales start.
• All tickets sold at the same price (bundles allowed if offered to everyone equally); tickets numbered consecutively.
• Don't sell to a minor if any prize includes alcohol or a gaming product.
• Results published as advertised, or winners notified by mail within 28 days; prizes delivered within a month.

Records

Keep gaming and accounting records (generally 5 years), bank gaming money in a dedicated account, and have accounts audited within 3 months of financial year-end.

What RaffleLink does

RaffleLink checks gross proceeds against the Category 3 threshold and enforces the cash and alcohol prize caps as you build. The 20% prize-value floor is your responsibility to meet — RaffleLink doesn't currently check it for you, so make sure your prizes clear that bar.