Answers for ticket purchasers and nonprofit admins. Still have questions? Contact us.
Yes. New York State requires anyone purchasing a raffle ticket, online or in person, to be 18 years of age or older at the time of purchase. Any winner will be required to show valid proof of age before claiming a prize.
Full answer: Who can buy a ticket in an online New York raffle?
Yes. You must be physically located within New York State at the time of purchase. The RFFL platform verifies your location through geolocation at checkout. Location access must be enabled in your browser for this to work. If you see a prompt asking to share your location, tap Allow.
If you weren't prompted or need to enable it manually: in Chrome, tap the lock icon in the address bar and set Location to Allow. In Safari on iPhone, go to Settings > Safari > Location and select While Using.
Full answer: Who can buy a ticket in an online New York raffle?
New York State gaming regulations require that anyone purchasing a raffle ticket online create a user account. This process completes your required age verification, assigns you a permanent account number, and gives you access to your ticket history and past purchases.
Full answer: Who can buy a ticket in an online New York raffle?
No. An account is not required for in-person ticket purchases. You'll provide your name, address, and phone number at the point of sale, and your ticket numbers and receipt will be emailed to you.
When a charity sets up a raffle, they connect their bank account directly to the RFFL platform through Stripe, our payment processor. Your payment goes directly from you to the charity. RFFL never holds or handles your funds.
Anyone under 18 will not be permitted to create a user account on the RFFL platform. If others, including minors, have access to your device, we recommend setting up parental controls to prevent unauthorized access to your account. See our guide to setting up parental controls.
If you believe someone under 18 has created an account, please contact us at support@rffl.co.
There are two primary reasons an account may be denied. First, you may not meet the minimum age requirement of 18. Second, your name may appear on the NY State Gaming Commission's voluntary self-exclusion list, maintained pursuant to 9 NYCRR Section 5403.2.
If you believe you are being excluded in error, please contact us at support@rffl.co.
To deactivate and delete your account, contact us at support@rffl.co. Please note that your ticket numbers and purchase history will be permanently removed.
New York State does not set a maximum on the number of tickets an individual may purchase.
No. Raffle ticket purchases are not recognized as tax-deductible contributions.
The RFFL platform accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Yes. RFFL uses Stripe for payment processing, which maintains PCI DSS Level 1 compliance, the highest security certification available for payment processors. RFFL never stores your card information.
All ticket purchases are final and nonrefundable. In the event a raffle is cancelled, refund decisions are made solely by the charity running the raffle. Contact them directly with any questions about a specific event.
Ticket numbers are generated automatically by the RFFL platform at the time of purchase. You'll receive a receipt by email and can view your tickets at any time through your RFFL account.
Contact the charity that ran the raffle directly. Their contact information is available within your RFFL account. RFFL does not conduct drawings or notify winners. That is handled entirely by the charity.
No. New York State law requires that all raffle ticket holders be eligible to win without being present at the drawing, and this must be stated on the ticket itself, in the raffle rules, and in any posted notices. You do not need to attend the drawing to claim a prize.
Full answer: Can you draw a raffle winner online in New York?
The charity posts its winning numbers after the drawing, usually on its website or social channels, and contacts winners directly. RFFL does not conduct drawings and does not send winner notifications. Your tickets and their serial numbers stay in your RFFL account, so you can check them against the charity's announcement.
Raffle winnings are generally treated as ordinary income and should be reported for both federal and New York State income tax purposes. We recommend consulting a tax professional with any specific questions.
Free, confidential help is available. Call the HOPEline at 1-877-846-7369 or text 467369.
You can also find local resources near you or learn about New York's Statewide Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program.
Start by registering your organization at app.rffl.co. Registration is self-serve, and no state paperwork is needed to begin. You can add your GOCID (Game of Chance ID) to your profile later.
Next, choose a plan in the app. You will receive an activation invoice, and paying it constitutes acceptance of the Purchase Agreement.
Your payment triggers a review by RFFL. Once your organization is approved, your account is activated, and raffle creation and Reggie access unlock at approval. You also connect your bank through Stripe in the app during setup.
You will need a GOCID from the NY State Gaming Commission before you can launch your first raffle.
Full answer: Can a nonprofit sell raffle tickets online in New York?
RFFL serves nonprofits across all of New York State. Wherever in NY your organization is based, you can run your raffle on RFFL, and your supporters can buy tickets from anywhere in the state.
Outside New York? Additional states are on our roadmap. Email us to get notified.
All plans and pricing are available on our pricing page. Every plan includes access to Reggie, our AI compliance assistant. Questions about which plan is right for your organization? Email sales@rffl.co.
New York State law requires organizations conducting charitable gaming to check participants against the state's voluntary self-exclusion list. You can obtain the official list from the NY State Gaming Commission at gaming.ny.gov.
RFFL provides a downloadable import template to make this straightforward. Download it from your account dashboard, match your data to the template columns, and upload. Manual entry is also available. Questions? Contact support@rffl.co.
Reggie is RFFL's AI compliance assistant, available at chat.rffl.co. He's built to answer questions about NY charitable gaming regulations in plain English, from raffle rules and reporting requirements to licensing and recordkeeping. Reggie is included with every RFFL subscription plan. You can also use Reggie for free before signing up.
No. RFFL does not conduct drawings or contact winners. The physical drawing is conducted by your organization using a ticket tumbler. Notifying winners is entirely your responsibility. RFFL provides a printable ticket export for use at your drawing.
Full answer: Can you draw a raffle winner online in New York?
A Games of Chance Identification Number is issued by the NY State Gaming Commission. You apply with Form 1A, the Application for Registration and Identification Number, filed with the Commission's Division of Charitable Gaming in Schenectady. The Commission's own instructions say to allow roughly eight to ten weeks, so apply early. Your municipal raffle license is a separate step: Forms GC-2, GC-2A and GC-2B and the $25 license fee go to the clerk of the city, town or village where your organization is based, and the Commission sends the clerk a copy of your approved Form 1A.
Every organization that sells raffle tickets online needs an identification number, because the Commission's internet raffle application asks for it. You can create your RFFL account before you have the number and add it to your profile later. It is required before you launch a raffle. All forms are at gaming.ny.gov. For your situation, ask Reggie.
Before a raffle, an organization expecting net proceeds under $30,000 may file a Verified Statement, Form GCVS-1, with its municipal clerk in place of a full raffle license. It lists your drawing dates and locations and requires your identification number. Raffles expecting $30,000 or more need a games of chance license, Form GC-5, from the clerk. Selling online also requires the Commission's internet raffle application, which names your supplier, and RFFL provides the supplier details you need for it.
After the year ends, organizations that filed a GCVS-1 report their actual net proceeds on Form GCVS-2 by January 30 of the following year, and licensed organizations file the GC-7R financial statement by the same date. If you sold tickets or held the drawing outside the municipality where you are licensed, you may also need a Raffle Consent Form, GC-RCF. All forms are at gaming.ny.gov/charitable-gaming-forms. For specifics about your situation, ask Reggie.
Yes. Your RFFL account supports multiple active raffles running simultaneously. Each raffle requires its own approval, ticket series, rules, and prize structure, and must independently meet all NYSGC requirements. Questions about managing multiple raffles? Email support@rffl.co.
Yes. When you build the raffle, select "This is a 50/50 raffle." The prize is set for you, and buyers see the estimated winnings update as tickets sell. RFFL only shows an estimate, calculated as half of total ticket sales. Additional contributions from buyers are not included in that figure. Your organization is responsible for confirming the final amount and paying the winner, just as with any raffle prize. Everything else works like a prize raffle: the raffle needs its own approval, and tickets sell and draw the same way.
Full answer: Can a 50/50 raffle be sold online in New York?
New York State limits ticket sales to no more than 180 days before the scheduled drawing date. No tickets may be sold after the drawing has occurred. Your organization sets the start date, drawing date, and duration when creating a raffle, within those limits.