Raffle Games That Raise More Money: 30 Fun Ideas People Love

Raffle games are are one of the easiest ways you can raise money for a cause. People buy tickets and those tickets give them a shot at winning a prize. That’s it. Plus they’re often simple to set up, very low cost and they’re fun for your supporters and make your cause look good. Plus when people are playing games and having a chance to win something, they don’t feel as though their donations are simply a financial transaction. From church picnics to citywide charity galas, raffles keep showing up because they work.

For nonprofits, schools and community groups, a well thought out and planned raffle can pull in hundreds or even thousands of dollars in just one evening. And best of all, you can easily add raffles to your existing galas and events as an additional add-on. And your raffles can start as low as a quarter for a ticket and get more expensive depending on your prizes. This way everyone gets a chance to play and have some fun, no matter how much money they have.

And although the old “draw a name from a hat” still works, there are so many cool options to make your event seriously stand out, from digital spin wheels on big screens to online ticket sales, raffles can get a serious boost when they go digital. In fact, if you’re using a platform like Paybee, you can even host hybrid events so your attendees can be at your event live, or play from anywhere in the world with an internet connection, opening your cause to an entirely new donor base.

The bottom line? Whether you stick with classic paper tickets or go fully virtual, raffles make fundraising feel like a party. And when people are having fun, they’re more likely to give and to give again. Below is our list of awesome games you can do quickly, easily and at a minimal cost. We’ll break down 30 fresh raffle game ideas from crowd pleasing classics to creative twists that you can plug into your next fundraiser right away.

24 of the Best Raffle Games for Any Event

1. Spin-to-Win Wheel

Definitely a classic, players buy a ticket for a chance to spin a colorful prize wheel divided into sections with different prizes, anything from a small gift to extravagant grand prizes.

• Difficulty Level: Very easy to set up and minimal rules. It’s also quick to explain to your attendees.
• Materials Needed: A cool prize wheel, table/display, tickets or token system and a variety of donated prizes.
• Fundraising Potential: High as it’s easy to encourage multiple spins and scale prizes.
• Maximizing Giving: Keep one “big prize” visible and offer bulk spin discounts.
• Spice it Up: Add a “mystery prize” section or a costumed host to announce spins.

2. 50/50 Cash Raffle

Probably the most used raffle idea as it’s so simple and can bring in a nice chunk of funding. Participants buy tickets with half of the pot going to the winner and the other half to your cause.

• Difficulty Level: Very easy since there’s no special setup at all, just some tickets.
• Materials Needed: Raffle tickets, container for drawing, cash box.
• Fundraising Potential: High since people are getting cash as a prize.
• Maximizing Giving: Sell tickets in bundles at a discount to increase sales volume.
• Spice it Up: Offer multiple smaller 50/50 drawings throughout the event.

3. Basket Raffle

Multiple themed baskets with catchy names and filled with donated goods or services are raffled off.

• Difficulty Level: Easy although you’ll need some prep time to create your baskets.
• Materials Needed: Baskets, themed items, raffle tickets, display table.
• Fundraising Potential: This can be quite high depending on the number of themed baskets you create.
• Maximizing Giving: Sell tickets for individual baskets or a “bundle deal” for all.
• Spice it Up: Use unusual themes like “Mystery Night Out” or “Around the World.”

4. Envelope Pull

Have a big basket of numbered envelopes that contain a prize slip for each one. The player makes a donation and chooses an envelope at random and wins the prize inside.

• Difficulty Level: A very easy simple set up.
• Materials Needed: Envelopes, slips with prizes, table display board.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium to high depending on what prizes are up for grabs.
• Maximizing Giving: Have a few “grand prize” envelopes mixed in to boost your numbers.
• Spice it Up: Make one envelope a “wild card” where the winner gets to choose any available prize.

5. Lucky Key Raffle

This is fun if you can find a bunch of keys. You have one lock and key that match and everyone ‘buys’ a key. The lucky winner gets what’s in the box. People begin opening only after all keys are sold.

• Difficulty Level: Moderate as you’ll need a bunch of random keys and a lockable prize container.
• Materials Needed: Lockable box, one working key, several non working keys and a grand prize.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium as suspense keeps people buying but there’s only one prize.
• Maximizing Giving: Charge more for the last few keys when anticipation builds.
• Spice it Up: Hide keys around the event space as a scavenger hunt.

6. Heads or Tails Raffle

Super basic idea where players stand and guess coin toss results until one winner remains.

• Difficulty Level: Very easy since there’s no setup beyond coin and mic.
• Materials Needed: Coin, raffle entry tags or wristbands.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium to high.
• Maximizing Giving: Let people buy extra “lives” for continued play.
• Spice it Up: Use a giant novelty coin toss for visual excitement.

7. Prize Plinko

Participants drop a puck down a vertical board with slots for prizes.

• Difficulty Level: Moderate to easy as it only requires the board setup.
• Materials Needed: Plinko board, puck, prize list.
• Fundraising Potential: High since each drop is a new sale opportunity.
• Maximizing Giving: Offer multiple drops at a discounted rate.
• Spice it Up: Have some slots trigger bonus drops or “double prizes.”

8. Wine Pull

This is easy but you’ll need a few dollars to do it well. Or a great corporate sponsor that’s willing to donate the bottles of wine. What happens is your guests pay to pull a wrapped bottle of wine and some bottles are high end and others are the cheaper stuff.

• Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate depending on how easy it is for you to source the wine.
• Materials Needed: Wine bottles, wrapping paper or bags and a display table.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium to high.
• Maximizing Giving: Include a few premium bottles to justify higher ticket prices.
• Spice it Up: Have a “golden cork” bottle that includes an extra prize.

9. Mystery Box Raffle

Players buy a ticket for a sealed box with an unknown prize inside. Since it is the main event, make the boxes stand out with gold and red question marks.

• Difficulty Level: Easy since prizes can range from fun to valuable.
• Materials Needed: Boxes or bags and assorted prizes.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium as curiosity drives sales.
• Maximizing Giving: Display a few boxes half open to tease possible prizes.
• Spice it Up: Include joke prizes for laughs alongside real ones. You can also make this a kid friendly event.

10. Reverse Raffle

Once everyone gets their tickets, your host calls out each ticket. The last ticket is the winner. Use can use a free random number generator for fair draws.

• Difficulty Level: Easy but it needs an organized drawing process.
• Materials Needed: Tickets, drum or container, prize.
• Fundraising Potential: This can be high as it builds suspense as tickets are eliminated.
• Maximizing Giving: Sell second chance tickets mid-game for eliminated players.
• Spice it Up: Offer small consolation prizes at random eliminations.

11. Treasure Chest Raffle

A locked treasure chest holds the grand prize with only one ticket corresponds to the winning key. Make it look like a real treasure chest to get people involved.

• Difficulty Level: Moderate as it only requires a lock and keys.
• Materials Needed: Lockable chest, keys (one winning, rest duds), tickets, prize.
• Fundraising Potential: High since mystery and suspense sell tickets fast.
• Maximizing Giving: Sell “key bundles” for more chances.
• Spice it Up: Decorate the chest to fit a pirate or adventure theme and have costumed “guards.”

12. Raffle Ring Toss

Players toss rings over bottles or pegs to win prizes like you see at fairs and carnivals.

• Difficulty Level: Easy to source materials.
• Materials Needed: Rings, bottles or pegs and your prizes.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium to high.
• Maximizing Giving: Offer “practice throws” for a small fee.
• Spice it Up: Use glow-in-the-dark rings for night events!

13. Balloon Pop Raffle

You can do this two ways, either each player needs to pop their balloon, or you can have a board and use darts to see which balloon they pop. Each balloon has a prize slip inside to tell them what they’ve won.

• Difficulty Level: Easy as set up is fun and quick.
• Materials Needed: Balloons, slips of paper, helium or air pump, pins or darts.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium.
• Maximizing Giving: Put a few high value prizes in the mix to boost ticket prices.
• Spice it Up: Use confetti-filled balloons for special prize reveals.

14. Lucky Duck Pond

Numbered floating ducks correspond to different prizes. Great for kids or family events!

• Difficulty Level: Easy – playful and visual.
• Materials Needed: Small pool or tub, floating ducks and some cool prizes.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium.
• Maximizing Giving: Offer discounts for multiple “ducks” pulled.
• Spice it Up: Add a few “golden ducks” with premium prizes.

15. Name That Number

Display a jar of candy or coins and the closest guess wins the jar.

• Difficulty Level: Very easy with minimal prep.
• Materials Needed: Jar, candies or coins and entry slips.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium to low.
• Maximizing Giving: Allow multiple guesses per person for extra donations.
• Spice it Up: Use unusual items like marbles or LEGO pieces to make guessing harder and add variety. You can even have a few jars on your display.

16. Raffle Bingo

Players mark off Bingo squares as raffle numbers are drawn and the first to complete a line wins.

• Difficulty Level: Easy and it combines bingo and raffle excitement.
• Materials Needed: Bingo cards, markers, raffle drum and some great prizes.
• Fundraising Potential: High since bingo is a crowd favorite.
• Maximizing Giving: Sell extra cards for multiple chances to win.
• Spice it Up: Offer themed bingo nights (music bingo, trivia bingo).

17. Scratch-Off Raffle Cards

Custom scratch off cards reveal instant winners much like the popular scratch off lottery cards.

• Difficulty Level: Moderate as it requires printing or purchasing scratch cards.
• Materials Needed: Scratch-off cards, prizes.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium to high.
• Maximizing Giving: Include “second chance” drawings for people that didn’t win anything.
• Spice it Up: Hide a big ticket grand prize among common wins.

18. Spin the Bottle Raffle

Just like the childhood game, you spin the bottle only wherever it points to is a prize. Everyone wins something, so have lots of prizes!

• Difficulty Level: Easy since there’s no complex materials needed.
• Materials Needed: Bottle or spinner, prize display.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium.
• Maximizing Giving: Allow players to buy spins in bulk for a discount.
• Spice it Up: Use a custom wheel under the bottle for themed sections.

19. Guess the Sound Raffle

A mystery sound is played over a speaker and participants write down their guess. The correct entries go into the raffle so the more right guesses they make, the more chances they have at winning. You can even do a ‘Name That Tune’ spin off if your supporters are music lovers.

• Difficulty Level: Easy since it only requires audio setup.
• Materials Needed: Audio clips, playback device, entry slips and fun prizes.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium.
• Maximizing Giving: Charge for multiple guesses at the same sound.
• Spice it Up: Use themed sound sets (animal calls, famous movie lines, local sounds).

20. Roll the Dice Raffle

Players roll giant dice and certain combinations earn raffle tickets. Charge per roll, and the more they win tickets, the greater chance they have at winning the big prize.

• Difficulty Level: Easy and quick to learn.
• Materials Needed: Oversized dice, table, entry slips.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium.
• Maximizing Giving: Sell extra rolls to increase odds.
• Spice it Up: Have special “jackpot” combinations for bonus entries or instant wins.

21. Wheelbarrow of Cheer Raffle

A wheelbarrow is filled with drinks, snacks, and goodies and winner gets the whole thing. You can tweak this a million ways including Eco-friendly merchandise or school supplies, it all depends on how to align it with your chairty.

• Difficulty Level: Easy as you just need to fill a few wheelbarrows.
• Materials Needed: Wheelbarrow, drinks and snacks and raffle tickets.
• Fundraising Potential: High because they’re going for a visually impressive prize.
• Maximizing Giving: Display prominently for the whole event.
• Spice it Up: Make it themed like wine & cheese, BBQ essentials or picnic pack.

22. Fishing for Fortune

Players “fish” with a pole over a barrier to pull up a numbered prize bag or even a metal fish with a number using a magnet as the hook.

• Difficulty Level: Easy and adds mystery.
• Materials Needed: Pole, line, hook and bags with prizes.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium.
• Maximizing Giving: Offer “premium fishing spots” for higher ticket price.
• Spice it Up: Decorate the fishing area like an ocean scene for fun photos.

23. Photo Booth Raffle

Every photo booth picture taken is an automatic raffle entry. You can even hang everyone’s picture and people can vote on the best, funniest or craziest picture to make it even more fun!

• Difficulty Level: Easy uses an existing booth you can rent.
• Materials Needed: Photo booth, ticket tracking method.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium.
• Maximizing Giving: Offer themed props for additional donation.
• Spice it Up: Randomly select “prop of the night” that earns bonus entries if used.

24. Digital Spin Raffle

Use an online spinning wheel on a screen for digital prize selection. This is great for completely virtual events like webinars and hybrid fundraisers.

• Difficulty Level: Easy as you can just use a laptop and display.
• Materials Needed: Digital spin software, display screen and prizes.
• Fundraising Potential: Medium to high.
• Maximizing Giving: Let donors pay extra to add their name multiple times.
• Spice it Up: Stream the spins live so everyone can watch the action.

Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Compliant Raffle Fundraiser

Disclaimer: This guide provides general information and is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney to ensure compliance with local regulations.

Understanding State Regulations for Raffle Fundraisers

When you’re planning your raffle fundraiser, an import aspect of staying legal is to clearly understand your state’s laws when it comes to raffles. Some states see raffles as a form of gambling, so you need to be clear to stay in compliance. While many states do permit raffles for nonprofit organizations, regulations vary widely:

• States Prohibiting Online Raffles: Alabama, California, Hawaii, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia explicitly ban selling raffle tickets online. If you're in one of these states, stick to in- person ticket sales to stay compliant.
• Utah's Unique Restriction: Utah prohibits all raffles, whether online or offline, making it one of the strictest states for this type of fundraising.
• Payment Restrictions: Some states impose specific rules on ticket purchases. For instance, Montana bans the use of credit cards for raffle ticket sales and requires you to use cash or other approved payment methods.
• Other Considerations: Even in states that allow raffles, additional restrictions may apply. Some states put limits on prize values, ticket pricing and even the frequency of your events. So please always verify your local regulations to avoid any potential problems.

IRS Reporting Requirements for Raffles

Compliance with IRS regulations is your top priority when it comes to not just the raffle organizers, but also the prize donors and winners of the prizes. It can get a little complicated so we’ll go over this in more detail here:

• Prize Reporting: Prizes valued at $600 or more must be reported to the IRS. Organizers must issue Form W-2G to winners and report the prize value to the IRS.
• Donor Responsibilities: If prizes are donated, donors may need to provide documentation for tax purposes, especially for high value or extremely unique items.
• Winner Obligations: Winners must also report their raffle winnings as taxable income. This is why sending your supporters proper documentation like donation receipts is so important, plus it helps them to simplify their tax filings.

Review IRS Publication 3079 titled, "TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS AND GAMING," to be sure you’re following the law to the letter. You should also consult a tax professional to to be sure in you’re in full compliance.

Charitable Gaming Licenses for Raffle Games

Many states require a charitable gaming license to host a raffle. Licensing requirements vary, but here are two examples:

• Washington, DC: Nonprofits must obtain a Charitable Games License from the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming. Applicants need to provide proof of federal tax-exempt status and demonstrate good standing with the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Processing times can take several weeks so make sure you plan ahead.
• Iowa: A Charitable Gambling License is required and you’ll incur fees ranging from $15 to $150 depending on your event's scope. Applications must be submitted at least 30 days before the raffle and approval is not guaranteed, so plan early in case there is a problem and you need to change strategies!

Check with your state’s gaming or charitable organization oversight board for specific requirements depending on where you’re located. Some states may also require background checks or financial disclosures for your organization as well as the board members.

Best Practices for a Successful Raffle Fundraiser

Although this may seem rather complicated, you can stay legal and run a great raffle at the same time. You just need to be sure you’re following all the rules. So here’s a quick list to make sure you’re actually aware of each one:

1. Research Local Laws: Use state governmental websites or reach out to your state’s gaming commission to confirm regulation requirements for your specific raffle and event. For example, search “[Your State] charitable gaming laws” to find official resources, or even use AI to help you.
2. Consult a Legal Expert: If your budget allows, hire an attorney specializing in nonprofit or gaming law to review your plans. This can prevent costly mistakes that could potentially get your nonprofit status revoked. And just a side note, when choosing your board of directors, always try to include a lawyer and an account that are willing to do pro-bono work, it will save you a ton of time and money in the future.
3. Plan for Licensing: Apply for any required licenses far ahead of time in case there’s a problem with your application, or worse, it’s denied. And don’t forget about the fees involved!
4. Communicate Clearly: Inform participants about prize reporting requirements and ensure winners receive IRS Form W-2G when applicable. If you’re using a platform like ours, it’s best to direct your supporters to our pages on compliance to save you time.
5. Explore Alternatives: If raffles are too complex or restricted in your state you should probably look to other avenues of fundraising. Some other highly profitable fundraising ideas include crowdfunding campaigns, virtual auctions or raffles or community events. Check out our blog for creative and compliant fundraising ideas that maximize impact!

Why Choose Paybee for Your Fundraising?

At Paybee, we’re more than just a payment processor, we’re your complete fundraising partner. Our platform is built specifically for the nonprofit sector and offers an all-in-one suite of tools to simplify every stage of your campaign. From compliance checklists to customizable raffle templates, Paybee gives you everything you need to plan, promote, and run events with confidence, and all while staying within legal guidelines. Explore our Resource Hub for expert tips, ready to use templates and our best practices to make your next fundraiser your most successful yet.

How to Maximize Participation in Your Paybee Raffle

So you’ve gone ahead and checked out our free demo and now you’ve set up your raffle in Paybee and secured prizes your supporters will love. Now it’s time to turn up the heat and turn your raffle into a fundraising success story.

1. Match the Raffle to Your Audience
   With Paybee, you can easily test and run different raffle formats including traditional ticket raffles, 50/50 draws, online raffles, or tiered prize levels to see what gets your supports excited about the most. Our analytics tools also help you track your results so you can fine tune your approach as the events unfolds.
2. Offer Prizes People Actually Want
   Paybee’s donor insights and reporting tools give you the ability to understand what excites your community. You can also use our survey tools or your past event data to select prizes that spark the most interest, whether that’s travel packages, tech gear, or exclusive experiences.
3. Build Anticipation Early
   Our built-in event promotion tools let you schedule teaser posts, email campaigns and include countdown timers directly from your Paybee dashboard. Share behind the scenes photos or videos of all the prizes, your team setting up the venue and anything else you can to get a buzz going.
4. Connect the Raffle to Your Mission
   Paybee makes it easy to showcase your cause right on your own raffle page. Add your fundraising goals and explain exactly how the money you’ll raise will be used so your supporters are clear and know they’re donating to a great cause. You can even go so far as to display live progress meters so supporters can see their impact in real time.
5. Set Ticket Prices with Intention
   Paybee’s flexible pricing options let you set single ticket rates, offer volume discounts or even add “donate more” upsells at checkout. Use our built in reports to analyze what pricing structure works best for your audience and your financial goals.

With Paybee, your raffle isn’t just a game, it’s a mission driven event designed to rally your community to support and need. Yet even though you may have the best intentions, legality will always be an issue for nonprofits. So just be sure you’re following the rules and applying for any necessary permits or licenses well before your event. Or better yet, if you can afford it, consider partnering with a legal advisor to handle all your licensing, charitable gaming applications and compliance details for you so you can concentrate on creating an unforgettable and highly profitable event for your donors.

Wrapping Up!

Raffles aren’t just about winning prizes, they’re about creating moments that connect people to your cause in a fun and memorable way that brings a smile on their face every time they remember it. Whether you keep it simple with a 50/50 draw or go all out with themed, interactive games, the right approach can turn any event into a fundraising powerhouse. With Paybee’s all in one platform, you have the right tools to plan, promote, and run your raffle with confidence so you can focus on engaging your community and raising more money for what matters most. Your next big win could be just one raffle ticket away.

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