Permit checker
Do you need a permit to run a raffle?
In Australia, raffle rules are set state by state. Small raffles usually don’t need a permit — but once your prize pool (or in Queensland, your ticket sales) passes your state’s threshold, your organisation needs one before tickets go on sale. Check where you stand in seconds.
Queensland measures its threshold on ticket sales, not prize value.
Choose your state to check whether your raffle needs a permit.
Permit rules, state by state
| State | Permit needed | Fundraising cap | Max duration | Permit wait | Special rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW New South Wales | When prize pool exceeds $30,000 | None | No limit | 4–6 weeks | — |
| VIC Victoria | When prize pool exceeds $22,340 | 6× prize pool | 12 months max | 4–6 weeks | Regulated by the VGCCC. Prizes must be drawn highest value first. The draw must happen within 14 days of the last ticket sale. Raffles without a permit are expected to wrap up within 3 months. |
| QLD Queensland | When gross ticket sales exceed $50,000 | 5× prize pool | 12 months max | 4–6 weeks | The threshold is measured on ticket sales, not prize value. Prizes must be drawn highest value first. You can cap your ticket sales so the maximum gross stays under $50,000 — no permit needed. |
| SA South Australia | When prize pool exceeds $5,000 | 5× prize pool | No limit | 3–4 weeks | The cap is assessed on your standard ticket price, so discounted packs don’t reduce it. |
| WA Western Australia | When prize pool exceeds $200 | None | 3 months max | 2–4 weeks | Discounted ticket packs aren’t allowed. The ticket count can’t increase once sales start. Prizes must be drawn highest value first. |
| ACT Australian Capital Territory | When prize pool exceeds $2,500 | 5× prize pool (10× once the pool tops $10,000) | 12 months max | 3–4 weeks | — |
| TAS Tasmania | Exempt — no permit required | None | No limit | — | Online raffles are exempt from permit requirements. |
| NT Northern Territory | Exempt — no permit required | None | No limit | — | Online raffles are exempt from permit requirements. |
Thresholds as encoded in the RaffleLink platform, last reviewed 2026-07-10. Always confirm current requirements with your state regulator.
Permit questions, answered
- Who applies for the raffle permit?
- The permit is issued to your organisation — it’s the raffle’s legal operator. But you don’t have to navigate the forms alone: RaffleLink can prepare and lodge the application on your behalf, including the supporting documents most states ask for.
- How long does a permit take to get?
- It varies by state — roughly 2–4 weeks in WA, 3–4 weeks in SA and the ACT, and 4–6 weeks in NSW, VIC and QLD. Build the wait into your launch plan, or start with a raffle under the threshold while the permit is processed.
- What happens if my raffle crosses the threshold mid-raffle?
- Thresholds are assessed on your advertised prize pool (or in QLD, your estimated gross ticket sales), so the time to check is before launch — RaffleLink flags it during setup. If you add prizes later and cross the line, you’ll need a permit before the draw, so talk to us first.
- Can RaffleLink apply for the permit for us?
- Yes. If your raffle needs a permit we’ll flag it during setup and can apply on your behalf — and the platform generates the supporting paperwork states commonly require.
Skip the rulebook
Every threshold, cap and draw rule on this page is built into RaffleLink — set up your raffle and the platform keeps it compliant from day one.