The regulation of raffles. (FE)

Current law allows two types of raffles to be conducted: (1) a game of chance for which tickets or calendars are sold and a drawing for prizes is held and (2) a game of chance for which a different method is used to determine a winner (alternate raffle) that has been approved by DOA. Current law requires any alternate raffle approved by DOA to be based on the winner being determined by random selection with all participants having an equal opportunity to win.

Under current law, an organization that holds a Class A or Class B raffle license may apply to DOA to conduct an alternate raffle. DOA may not issue a license for an alternate raffle unless it determines that the raffle will comply with all requirements under the statute and applicable rules. Current law requires DOA to approve a license for an alternate raffle that consists of flexible plastic or rubber ducks being used in a race (duck race) and to establish requirements for conducting a duck race so that it will comply with all requirements under the statute and applicable rules.

This bill removes DOA's authority to approve an alternate raffle. Instead, this bill authorizes raffles that involve either of two types of drawings: (1) a drawing in which a winner is determined by random selection of a ticket or calendar portion from a container housing all portions of tickets or calendars purchased for the selection and (2) a drawing in which the winner is determined by a duck race. Under this bill, a raffle may not be conducted unless any winner in a raffle is determined by a drawing with all tickets or calendars having an equal opportunity to win.

Under current law, a Class A licensee may charge up to $500 for a raffle ticket and up to $10 for each month covered by a calendar raffle. Under a Class B raffle, current law allows tickets to be sold for no more than $10 each. This bill removes all limits on the prices of raffle tickets and calendars.

Under current law, an organization with a raffle license may conduct no more than 200 raffles in a 12-month period. This bill increases this maximum to 365 raffles.

Under current law, an organization with a Class B raffle license may sell tickets for a raffle drawing only on the day of the drawing or within 24 hours immediately preceding the start of the drawing. Under this bill, a Class B licensee may sell tickets before the day of a drawing if the tickets are not delivered to purchasers until the day of the drawing.

Under current law, a Class A licensee may sell raffle tickets up to 270 days before the day of a raffle drawing, except that an organization that existed five years before obtaining a Class A license may sell raffle tickets up to one year before the day of the drawing. This bill extends this period to one year for all Class A licensees.

Current law allows a Class A licensee to sell equal shares of a single ticket to one or more purchasers. This bill allows this only if certain requirements are met, including that not more than four shares of a single ticket be sold and that no discount be offered to the purchaser of more than one share of a ticket.

Current law requires DOA to promulgate rules relating to the conduct of raffles.

This bill removes that authority.