Can you legally raffle off your house?
David Herrmann
Instead of trying to sell my house in a sinking California housing market,
I am wondering if it is possible to raffle it off. I have heard that this
has been done before, but I can't find any legal advice on how to set this
up. Here is what I thought would work. Set up a raffle to sell say 3,000
tickets at $100.00 each. Put a time limit on it. Once all 3,000 tickets are
sold, hold the raffle. If I don't get all tickets sold, then refund
everyone's money. I would assume that I would have to hire a law firm to
act as the agency to handle the money and hold the drawing. Does anyone
know if this is legal in California? Has anyone heard of this being done
before? Do you think it is a bad idea or not?
Thanks for any information.
-Dave
TinaH53374
Herrmann) writes:
Can you legally raffle off your house?
I don't know about California, but there was a big article about this
issue in the Philadelphia Inquirer in the last few months. Sorry I don't
have more specifics, but you can probably find it through a library search
system. People are doing it in New Jersey, and I think the state is
having qualms about it, thinking of ending this practice. Check the
Inquirer article if you can find it.
John Doe
>Can you legally raffle off your house?
It has been done in Colorado. I have even contacted the CO A.G. in
this regard. They were willing to supply all the necessary guidelines for
proceding legally. Suggest you contact the Cal Attorney General's office,
and ask for the regs on running a raffle or contest or game of chance...
Joseph Slater
It's been done in NC too, but it can't be a game of chance. Therefore it
must have some element of skill involved. The ones that I've seen here
run it as a contest. You must write in however many words or less why
you want the house, why the sky is blue, etc, etc and the winner gets
the house.
--
Joe Slater
SAS...@VMS.SAS.COM
"Looks like a good day for Ultimate Frisbee!"
The above is my opinion only
Evidence Inc.
: Instead of trying to sell my house in a sinking California housing market,
: I am wondering if it is possible to raffle it off. I have heard that this
: has been done before, but I can't find any legal advice on how to set this
: up. Here is what I thought would work. Set up a raffle to sell say 3,000
[rest deleted]
Its been done several times, including once in Riverside, California. I
spoke with a friend, a newspaper reporter, who wrote a store on it. When
he contacted the local District Attorney, he was told that they
considered it illegal, but probably wouldn't prosecute. Its a violation
of State gambling laws, which make it illegal to run gambling
operations. Only the State of California is allowed to a lottery...
Other states probably have similar laws....