Unclaimed Raffle Prizes: State Rules & Redraws
While unclaimed raffle prizes aren’t common, they can occasionally happen — and knowing how to handle them properly is important for raffle organisers. Whether you’re dealing with an unclaimed prize due to an unreachable winner or managing a declined prize that needs to be redrawn, following the correct process is crucial for compliance. RaffleLink includes clear guidance and a redraw feature to help you handle unclaimed prizes appropriately and efficiently.
Two different scenarios
1. Declined prizes
When a winner has been contacted and explicitly declines their prize, you can use the redraw feature to immediately select a new winner. This type of unclaimed prize is straightforward:
- The winner has been contacted
- The winner has voluntarily declined the prize
- You can proceed with an immediate redraw
2. Unreachable winners
When you’ve made reasonable attempts but cannot reach a winner, you must follow state-specific holding periods and regulations:
- The winner hasn’t responded to contact attempts
- State holding periods must be observed
- Different rules apply based on your state
The redraw feature for declined prizes
When a winner has explicitly declined their prize, the redraw tool makes it easy to select a new winner:
Access the redraw tool
- Open your raffle’s winners page in your RaffleLink dashboard
- Mark the relevant prize as unclaimed
- Choose the redraw option
Automatic process
- The system selects a new winner fairly
- Previous winners are automatically excluded
- Both winners receive notification emails
- Your public raffle page updates automatically to show the original and redrawn winner, for transparency
State regulations for unreachable winners
If you cannot reach a winner, each state has specific requirements. Each state below links to its full rules guide, and our compliance overview explains how permit thresholds, ticket caps and draw obligations fit together:
- NSW: hold for 3 months before redraw
- QLD: must retain the prize for 12 months
- VIC:
- Prizes over $500: hold the physical prize for 3 months; you can then sell it but must retain the proceeds for 12 months
- Prizes under $500: a reasonable waiting period before redraw
- WA: 12-month retention with documented contact attempts
- SA: minimum 2-month hold before redraw
- NT: transfer to the Director-General after 3 months
- ACT: a reasonable period before redraw (specify in your terms and conditions)
Using the prize management system
- From your raffle’s winners page, mark the prize as unclaimed — the system will present two
options:
- Redraw the prize, for declined prizes
- Retain the prize, for unreachable winners
- Choose your path:
- For declined prizes, proceed with an immediate redraw
- For unreachable winners, follow the state guidance provided
Unclaimed prizes are far less common when the prize is one your community actually wants — our guide to the raffle prizes that work best covers how to choose one, and if your prize came from a business partner, keep them in the loop during a redraw (how to secure and keep prize sponsors).
Need help managing prize winners? Contact support any time.
