Raffles

Chancellor’s Regulation A-660 (CR A-660) allows PA/PTAs that have been in existence for at least three years to hold raffles for fundraising purposes. A PA/PTA or Presidents’ Council in existence for at least three years immediately preceding the raffle may be exempt from the application and licensing requirements if a single raffle event has net proceeds of less than $5,000 and cumulative raffle events in a calendar year have net proceeds of less than $20,000. These requirements do not apply to free raffle ticket drawing, such a door prize.

Raffles are highly regulated activities — a PA/PTA wishing to hold any type of raffle should refer to the New York State Gaming Commission's website.

Examples from NYC public school PA/PTAs*:

• Staff raffle — prizes are outings or activities with teachers, the principal or other school staff members
• Free raffle — prizes are used as incentives (e.g., each parent who volunteers at an event or activity is eligible to be entered into a raffle for a donated prize)
• Charity raffle — money raised is donated to a charity of the PA/PTA’s or student body’s choice

*Some PA/PTAs conduct independent raffles, while others include them as part of a larger event, such as a carnival.