How to Run a Legal Raffle in Queensland

Running a raffle in Queensland? Here's the full picture — from meat trays at the local RSL to major charity art unions.

Do you need a permit?

In Queensland, the threshold is $5,000 in total prize value.

Under $5,000 — no permit required. This is your standard weekly club raffle, pub draw, or small community fundraiser. You still need to be a community or charitable organisation, but you don't need government approval.

$5,000 or over — you need an art union permit from the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR). Queensland uses the term "art union" for what most people call a raffle. Same thing, different name, extra paperwork.

Where to apply

The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) handles permits. Apply through their website at olgr.qld.gov.au. Give yourself plenty of lead time — you can't sell tickets until the permit is approved.

Only eligible community and charitable organisations can apply. If you're a for-profit business, you'll need to partner with a registered nonprofit.

What the law says

Queensland raffles fall under the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999. The Act sets out who can run gaming activities, what types are allowed, prize limits, and record-keeping requirements.

Key point: all proceeds (minus the cost of prizes and approved expenses) must go to the charitable purpose. You can't run a raffle and keep the profit for the business.

Common scenarios

An RSL club running a weekly meat raffle with $200 in prizes? No permit. Standard community gaming activity.

A charity running a car raffle worth $50,000? Absolutely needs an art union permit from OLGR. These take longer to process and have stricter reporting requirements.

A school tuckshop running a hamper raffle at the school fete with $1,000 in prizes? No permit needed. Under threshold, community purpose, straightforward.

What to display

Every raffle in Queensland needs to clearly show: the name of the organisation, the draw date, prize details, ticket price, and how winners will be contacted. If you hold a permit, display the permit number.

The legal citation for Queensland raffles references the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999.

How Drawdrop handles this

Set your state to QLD and Drawdrop does the rest. Legal citations are auto-included on your draw page. Prize values over $5,000 trigger the compliance checklist with a direct link to OLGR.

Your permit number and document are stored in venue settings. Expiry tracking means you'll never accidentally run a draw on a lapsed permit.