Raffle guides
Practical, source-cited guides to running raffles, prize competitions, and society lotteries in the UK and Ireland. Written by the team building Raffair, fact-checked against the Gambling Commission and gov.uk before publication.
Pillar guide
How to run a raffle online (UK & Ireland) — the complete 2026 guide
Step-by-step: pick a legal route (society lottery, prize competition, or free draw), set a price, run the draw, and pay the winner. UK & Ireland.
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More guides
How to run a raffle legally in the UK (society lottery vs prize competition vs free draw)
The three legal routes for UK raffles explained: society lottery, prize competition, and free draw. Which applies to you, and what each one requires.
Do you need a licence to run a raffle in the UK?
Most UK raffles do not need a Gambling Commission licence, but several do require registration. Here's what applies to you.
Prize competition vs raffle vs lottery — what's the difference?
A clear, plain-English explanation of how UK law treats raffles, lotteries, and prize competitions, and why it matters which one you run.
How to run a charity raffle (the small society lottery walkthrough)
Step-by-step guide to registering and running a small society lottery for a UK charity, club, or non-commercial organisation.
How to pick a raffle winner fairly (and prove it)
How to draw a fair winner using a publicly verifiable RNG — and why a random number generator alone isn't enough without a commit-reveal.
How much does it cost to run an online raffle?
What it actually costs to run an online raffle in 2026 — platform commission, payment fees, email, and a worked example for a £25,000 prize.
Raffle ideas and prize ideas that actually sell tickets
What kinds of prizes sell raffle tickets in 2026 — for charities, clubs, creators, and small businesses. With examples and a sanity check on margins.
How to promote a raffle (without breaking ad rules)
Promote your raffle on Instagram, TikTok, email, and search without falling foul of platform policies or UK advertising codes.
Raffle rules and terms template (UK)
A starting-point template for the rules and terms you publish with your UK raffle — covering eligibility, entry, draw, prize, and what happens if it doesn't sell out.
Sports club fundraising raffles — a step-by-step how-to
How a UK sports club can run an online raffle to raise funds — legal route, prize ideas, ticket pricing, and promotion playbook.