SB 8

Under current law, a not-for-profit, religious, charitable, service, fraternal, or

veterans organization that serves a geographic area that is limited to Wisconsin and

that has existed for at least one year or is chartered by a state or national

organization that has existed for at least three years may obtain a license to conduct

raffles.

Under rules promulgated by the Department of Administration (DOA), an

organization with a Class A raffle license may conduct single-event raffles or a

calendar raffle. Current law defines a calendar raffle as a raffle for which a drawing

is held and a prize awarded on each date specified in a calendar. This bill defines a

single-event raffle to be a raffle for which one or more drawings from a single

container are held and one or more prizes are awarded on one date and at one

location. Under current law, an organization with a Class B raffle license may

conduct raffles in which more than one drawing may be made from more than one

container, each container is specific to a prize or group of prizes, and ticket

purchasers place their tickets in the containers of their choice.

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.