What's the difference between Online and Offline Raffles?

Online Raffles 

Online raffles (prize draws) are a fully automated online and legally compliant “Game of skill” service available on all PTA Events, Clubs Hub, and Charity Hub websites. 

The facility is streamlined and fully integrated as an end-to-end online raffle service, from easily adding prizes and images, creating customisable blocks of tickets for online purchase which are then emailed to your customer, and easy ways to promote your raffle through auto-generated QR codes unique to your event. 

With online raffles, it’s online, simpler for your community to get involved and fully integrated into your current website. An online raffle (prize draw) is not regulated by the gambling commission as it's a game of skill rather than a game of chance. Customers must answer a question correctly to be entered into the final draw. 

The link to our full end-to-end online raffle guide can be found here.

Offline Raffles 

For offline raffles (traditional raffle) you can use the PTA Events platform to sell tickets to your raffle prior to the event but you must then send the customer a physical raffle ticket with all the information that's required on by law. Tickets must show the name of the promoting society, the purpose of the lottery, ticket price, name and address of the organiser, and the date of the draw. This isn't something that the PTA Events platform does as our role within this is limited to only allowing the sale of tickets. Anything more would mean that we would be too involved in the process which is heavily regulated by the Gambling Act 2005. 

It is possible to mix tickets from online sales with offline sales as long as the customer who purchased online receives a physical ticket with all the required information. 

To comply with the UK Gambling Act 2005, you are required to provide evidence of a valid small society lottery licence, or a proof of purchase dated within the last 12 months before running your offline raffle. This can be uploaded via your website by browsing to "Admin" > "Settings" and click on the "Payment" tab.