What's the difference between a Prize Draw (Online Raffle) and Raffle (Offline)?

Prize Draws (Online Raffles)

Prize Draws (Online Raffles) are a fully automated, legally compliant online service available across all PTA Events, Clubs Hub, and Charity Hub websites.

This service is fully integrated end to end, making it simple to manage every stage of your prize draw. You can easily add prizes and images, create customisable ticket bundles for online purchase, and automatically email tickets to participants. Each draw also includes auto-generated QR codes unique to your event, making promotion quick and easy.

Prize Draws (Online Raffles) are not regulated by the Gambling Commission because we provide a free entry route for every draw. This ensures that:

• People can choose to enter without paying

• The free entry route is no more expensive and no less convenient than the paid route

• Free entry is available at the normal rate

• The free entry route is promoted and displayed at the same level as paid entry

• Participants can clearly see and choose between free and paid entry routes

• The system that determines winners does not distinguish between entry routes

You can find further guidance from the Gambling Commission here:
https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-and-players/guide/page/free-draws-and-prize-competitions

We are also fully compliant with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) code of conduct for running prize draws:
https://www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/promotional-marketing-prize-draws.html

Our full Prize Draw Terms & Conditions can be found here:
https://www.pta-events.com/pta/attachments/Prize-Draw-Terms-12022025.pdf

A comprehensive end-to-end Prize Draw guide is also available here.

Raffles (Offline)

Raffles (Offline), also known as traditional raffles, are handled differently.

You can use the PTA Events platform to sell raffle tickets online in advance of your event, but you must then issue each customer with a physical raffle ticket. This ticket must contain all information required by law, including:

• The name of the promoting society

• The purpose of the lottery

• The ticket price

• The name and address of the organiser

• The date of the draw

PTA Events’ role in offline raffles is limited to ticket sales only. We do not generate or distribute physical raffle tickets, as deeper involvement would place us within activities that are heavily regulated under the Gambling Act 2005.

To complete our compliance checks, you must email a photo or screenshot of your physical raffle tickets (clearly showing all required information) to: support@pta-events.co.uk

It is possible to combine online and offline ticket sales, provided that any customer who purchases tickets online is issued with a physical ticket containing all legally required details.

Important Compliance Notice

To comply with the UK Gambling Act 2005, you must provide evidence of one of the following before running an offline raffle:

• A valid Small Society Lottery licence, or

• Proof of licence purchase dated within the last 12 months

Stripe also requires this licence to verify that the organisations we work with are charitable organisations holding a valid Small Society Lottery licence.  This requirement applies to both Prize Draws (Online Raffles) and Raffles (Offline).

You can upload this documentation by navigating to:
Admin > Settings > Payment within your website.

Further guidance is available here.

Additional information from the Gambling Commission on running a lottery can be found in the attached guidance document.