Western Australia
Raffle rules for WA — permits, fixed ticket numbers, and the things WA does differently.
In Western Australia, raffles are "standard lotteries" under the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987, overseen by the Gaming and Wagering Commission (Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries). WA has a couple of distinctive rules worth knowing up front.
Who can run one
An acceptable non-profit body — a bona fide community, sporting, charitable, or similar group, proven by a certified constitution or rules. Not individuals or businesses. You nominate a permit holder over 18 who's involved in running the organisation. Proceeds must support the group's purpose, never private gain or a commercial venture.
When you need a permit
Selling tickets to the public over a period is a standard lottery, which requires a permit. You only avoid a permit if you fit a narrow exemption, each keyed to small prize values (for example: members-only with each prize ≤ $1,000 and drawn within 8 days; a same-day on-site raffle with total prizes ≤ $2,000; or a minor fundraiser with total prizes ≤ $200).
Encouragingly, WA puts no cap on how much you can raise and no limit on permits per year.
Two WA specifics
- Ticket numbers are fixed once sales start. 🔴 "No approval will be given to increase the number of tickets for sale once ticket sales have commenced." So set your ticket capacity correctly at launch — you can't expand it mid-raffle. RaffleLink enforces this for WA raffles.
- Minimum age to buy or sell is 12 (not 16 or 18) — rising to 18 if liquor is a prize.
Tickets and the draw
- All tickets at the same price authorised by the permit.
- Each ticket shows the permit details, prizes and values, draw date, and where results will be published.
- Prizes delivered within 30 days; results published in the named publication on the stated date.
- A permit runs up to 3 months; extensions need a written request at least 7 days before closing.
- Records kept for 12 months.
What RaffleLink does
RaffleLink locks ticket capacity for live WA raffles (no increases after sales start), applies the same-price rule, and flags the permit requirement.
The official source
WA's Gaming and Wagering Commission is the authority — rgl.wa.gov.au. This summary is based on the Commission's standard-lotteries brochure; detailed conditions (including any prize-specific rules and post-event reporting) live in its full application kit, so check there for the specifics of a larger raffle.