Ohio Nonprofit Raffle Laws (2026): Rules, HB 476 & Compliance Guide

Il existe cependant des règles précises pour garantir la conformité et éviter les pénalités. Ce guide explore les lois de l'Ohio sur les tombolas, les exigences de conformité, les pièges courants et les meilleures pratiques pour organiser une tombola réussie et conforme à la loi.

We've even created a free checklist for Ohio raffle compliance to download.

Below, you'll learn more about:

• Ohio raffle rules at a glance

• Vue d'ensemble des lois sur les tombolas dans l'Ohio

• Exigences de conformité pour les tombolas de l'Ohio

• Ohio raffle ticket design requirements

• Penalties and enforcement

• Les pièges juridiques les plus courants et comment les éviter

• Ohio House Bill 476: The Pending Law That Could Change Everything for Nonprofit Raffles

• 3 conseils de pro pour une gestion réussie des tombolas dans l'Ohio

• Inspirez-vous de cet exemple de tombola réussie dans l'Ohio

• FAQ sur les tombolas dans l'Ohio

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Ohio raffle rules at a glance

Before diving into the details, here's a quick-reference summary of the most important Ohio raffle rules for nonprofits.

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Use this table as a quick compliance check before planning each event. For the full legal details behind each rule, keep reading.

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Vue d'ensemble des lois sur les tombolas dans l'Ohio

La section 2915.092 du code révisé de l'Ohio (ORC) régit les tombolas de bienfaisance dans l'État. Les organisations qualifiées peuvent organiser leurs événements sans licence officielle de tombola, à condition que le produit de la tombola soit utilisé à des fins caritatives.

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Qui peut organiser une tombola ?

Pour organiser légalement des tombolas dans l'Ohio, vous devez répondre à l'un des critères suivants en tant qu'organisation caritative qualifiée :

• Être une organisation 501(c)(3) selon l'Internal Revenue Code (pensez aux organisations caritatives, éducatives ou religieuses à but non lucratif).

• Être une organisation 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10) ou 501(c)(19).

• être un district scolaire, une école communautaire, une école STEM, une école non publique agréée ou un internat préparatoire à l'université

Toute organisation ayant le statut 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6) ou 501(c)(7) doit s'assurer qu'au moins 50 % des recettes nettes des jeux de bienfaisance tels que les tombolas sont affectées à une œuvre de bienfaisance qualifiée ou à une entité gouvernementale.

Exigences de conformité pour les tombolas de l'Ohio

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Rapports financiers et tenue de registres

L'Ohio impose des obligations de déclaration assez strictes aux organisations à but non lucratif qui organisent des tombolas. Selon la section 2915.10 du code révisé de l'Ohio, les registres doivent inclure :

• Recettes brutes et dépenses détaillées

• Liste de tous les prix de tombola attribués (services, marchandises et prix en espèces inclus)

• Détails de la distribution du bénéfice net (y compris les noms et adresses des destinataires)

• Nombre de participants et inventaire des fournitures pour la tombola

• Nom du fabricant des fournitures

These records matter as you prepare for, during, and, most importantly, after your raffle. They must be kept for three years after the event. Records must be kept at the organization's principal place of business or headquarters in Ohio, and the Ohio Attorney General must be notified of the location where they are stored.

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Restrictions d'âge

• Vente de billets : Toute personne âgée de moins de 18 ans peut vendre des billets de tombola à condition de ne pas être présente sur le lieu de la tombola.

• Achat de billets : Les mineurs peuvent légalement acheter des billets de tombola dans l'Ohio.

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Utilisation des bénéfices

You'll need to deposit gross profits from each raffle into a dedicated checking account used exclusively for the raffle. Payments for expenses and net profit distributions can only be made by checks or electronic fund transfers from this account.

• Organismes de type 501(c)(3) : Peuvent conserver 100 % des recettes nettes.

• Autres organisations à but non lucratif : Doivent affecter au moins 50 % du bénéfice net à une œuvre de bienfaisance qualifiée.

Good to know: Only prizes paid out may be deducted as expenses. Other costs (rent, equipment, supplies, etc.) must be paid using other sources of funds.

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Exigences relatives à l'événement et au lieu

Les tombolas peuvent être organisées dans divers lieux, y compris des entreprises, des résidences privées ou des espaces publics, à condition qu'une organisation caritative en soit l'hôte. La tombola doit également respecter toutes les autres lois de l'Ohio relatives aux jeux de bienfaisance que nous exposons ici.

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Audits

Le procureur général peut adopter des règles concernant la comptabilité, la tenue de registres et les rapports et peut à tout moment :

• Enquêter sur les organisations caritatives, les distributeurs et les fabricants

• Examiner les comptes et les registres

• Conduct audits, inspections, and observations of raffles and related premises

That's why it's best to keep things organized and accessible. An online raffle software or donor management system like Zeffy — trusted by 100,000+ nonprofits who have collectively raised over $2 billion — can help you do this easily (and it's 100% free!)

Ohio raffle ticket design requirements

Selling tickets is the engine of every raffle — but Ohio law also regulates what has to appear on those tickets. Under ORC 2915.092, each raffle ticket must include specific information to be considered valid and compliant.

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What must appear on every ticket

Per ORC 2915.092, a compliant Ohio raffle ticket must display:

• The name of the charitable organization conducting the raffle

• The date of the raffle drawing

• The price of the ticket

• A description of each prize to be awarded

• The total number of tickets available for that drawing (if a fixed quantity is used)

These requirements protect your participants and protect your organization. If a ticket is challenged — by a winner, a donor, or an auditor — having all required information printed clearly is your first line of defense.

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Physical vs. digital tickets

Ohio law was written with physical tickets in mind, but many organizations now sell tickets online using platforms like Zeffy. When you sell digitally, make sure your confirmation email or digital ticket PDF includes every field listed above. Your digital ticket record should also include a unique identifier for each ticket so you can match it to the stub drawn at your physical drawing.

Keep a copy of every digital ticket issued as part of your three-year recordkeeping obligation. If the Ohio AG's office ever audits your raffle, those records prove that every ticket sold matched a valid entry in the drawing.

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Ticket bundles and pricing disclosures

If you're offering bundle pricing — say, five tickets for $20 instead of $5 each — make sure the per-ticket value is still clear. Participants need to understand exactly what they're purchasing. Bundled offers are permitted, but the prize descriptions and drawing date must still appear on each individual ticket or on the bundle confirmation, depending on your format.

Getting your ticket design right before you go on sale saves headaches later. It's one of those details that's easy to overlook during the excitement of planning a raffle — and one of the first things an audit will check.

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Penalties and enforcement

Running a raffle outside Ohio's rules isn't just a paperwork problem. The Ohio Revised Code sets out real consequences — and the Attorney General's office has the authority to enforce them.

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Criminal penalties under ORC 2915.02

Conducting an illegal raffle in Ohio — meaning a raffle that doesn't meet the qualified organization requirements or otherwise violates ORC 2915.092 — can be charged as a criminal offense under Ohio's gambling statute, ORC 2915.02.

• A first offense is generally classified as a first-degree misdemeanor, carrying fines of up to $1,000 and up to 180 days in jail.

• A second or subsequent offense can be elevated to a fifth-degree felony, carrying fines of up to $2,500 and up to 12 months in prison.

These aren't theoretical risks for organizations intentionally running illegal gambling operations. They're the floor for any qualifying nonprofit that runs a raffle incorrectly — including by failing to meet the profit-allocation requirements or by conducting a drawing without a physical receptacle.

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Civil and administrative consequences

Beyond criminal exposure, the Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Law Section can take civil and administrative action against organizations that violate charitable gaming rules. That includes:

• Ordering repayment of improperly used funds

• Revoking the organization's ability to conduct future raffles or other charitable gaming events

• Requiring corrective audits at the organization's expense

• Public disclosure of enforcement actions, which can damage donor trust

Organizations that fail to maintain the required three years of records face independent liability. Even if your raffle was otherwise run correctly, missing documentation can trigger penalties under ORC 2915.10.

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What the AG's office looks for

The Ohio AG's Charitable Gaming division conducts both scheduled and surprise inspections. Auditors commonly check that raffle proceeds are held in a separate dedicated account, that prize winners are properly documented (especially those receiving $600 or more), and that net profit distributions went to qualifying charitable purposes in the right proportions.

The safest approach is to treat every raffle as though an audit is already scheduled. Keep your records current, your dedicated account clean, and your documentation organized. An online platform that automatically generates ticket records, payment receipts, and participant logs — like Zeffy's free raffle tool — makes staying audit-ready significantly easier.

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Les pièges juridiques les plus courants et comment les éviter

1. Oublier d'assurer un suivi rigoureux des tirages au sort

Imagine your nonprofit hosts an annual holiday raffle where you raise $15,000 and celebrate a successful event. Fast forward six months, and the Ohio Attorney General's office requests an audit of your records. Turns out, no one kept a detailed record of ticket sales, winners, or expenses.

Ohio law (ORC 2915.10) mandates that all gross receipts, expenses, prize winners (especially those receiving $600+ in raffle prizes), and net profit distributions be documented and kept for three years. Without these records, your organization risks penalties, fines, and potential loss of raffle privileges.

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2. Mélanger l'argent de la tombola avec les fonds généraux

Imagine hosting a spring raffle, selling $10,000 worth of tickets. To simplify things, your treasurer deposits money into the organization's general account, assuming it'll be easy to track later. A few months later, an internal audit revealed that some funds were inadvertently used for unrelated operating expenses.

This can be a massive risk because Ohio requires that all raffle proceeds be deposited into a separate checking account devoted exclusively to the raffle. Payments for expenses (even in small amounts) must be made via check or electronic fund transfers from that account.

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3. Vente de billets aux mineurs

Imaginez des lycéens volontaires et enthousiastes aidant à vendre des billets de tombola lors de votre gala annuel. Vous seriez heureux de recevoir cette aide. À l'insu des organisateurs, plusieurs mineurs ont acheté des billets pendant l'événement pour soutenir leurs amis.

While Ohio law allows minors to purchase tickets, they cannot be present at the raffle drawing site. Violating age-related provisions could put your raffle at risk of being deemed illegal, leading to fines or reputational damage.

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4. Dépassement des limites de valeur des prix

Imagine you organize a mega raffle with a grand prize valued at $150,000. However, Ohio law prohibits offering prizes of over $100,000 in a single raffle drawing or an aggregate of $500,000 annually without additional permits.

Même si vous faites tout ce qu'il faut, le dépassement de ces limites peut invalider votre tombola et entraîner des pénalités ou une disqualification pour les événements à venir.

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5. Ventes en ligne non déclarées et dessins non physiques

Imaginez que vous élargissiez votre loterie en vendant des billets en ligne pour augmenter la participation. L'événement est un succès et vous optez pour un outil de tirage au sort en ligne pour choisir le gagnant sans vous rendre compte que la loi de l'Ohio exige un tirage physique à partir d'un récipient tangible.

While online sales are allowed, the final drawing has to be conducted physically or the raffle may be considered invalid.

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Ohio House Bill 476: The Online Raffle Bill to Watch (Status as of April 17, 2026)

Ohio nonprofit leaders running raffles have been watching Columbus closely — and for good reason. As you just read, Ohio currently requires all raffle drawings to be conducted from a physical receptacle, even when tickets are sold online. House Bill 476 proposes to change that entirely.

Introduced in the Ohio General Assembly, HB 476 would legalize fully online raffles for charitable organizations in Ohio. If passed, it would represent the most significant shift in Ohio raffle law in decades, and it directly affects how your nonprofit can sell tickets, reach donors, and run its fundraising events.

Here's what you need to know right now.

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What House Bill 476 Would Change

Under current Ohio law, nonprofits conducting raffles must sell tickets in person or through limited methods that stop well short of a true end-to-end online raffle experience. Ticket sales conducted entirely over the internet — where a supporter visits a webpage, pays digitally, and receives a digital ticket without any in-person component — occupy a legal gray area that causes many organizations to hold back from fully embracing online fundraising tools.

HB 476 would explicitly authorize licensed charitable organizations to conduct raffles entirely online, including:

• Online ticket sales directly to supporters anywhere in Ohio

• Digital ticket delivery without a physical component

• Remote winner selection and notification, eliminating the requirement for an in-person drawing in many circumstances

This would bring Ohio in line with a growing number of states that have already modernized their charitable gaming statutes to reflect how donors actually behave today. For nonprofits already using tools like Zeffy to sell tickets online, the shift would remove the compliance workaround of requiring a separate physical drawing and open the door to truly end-to-end digital raffle campaigns.

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Current Status of HB 476

As of April 17, 2026: HB 476 passed the Ohio House of Representatives on November 19, 2025 and moved to the Ohio Senate for consideration. It has not yet passed the Senate or been signed into law. Advocacy groups including LeadingAge Ohio are actively supporting the bill. For the latest status and any further legislative action, check the official Ohio Legislature bill tracker for HB 476. We update this article periodically to reflect the current status.

Last reviewed: June 2025. We update this section as the bill progresses. Bookmark this page or check back before your next raffle planning cycle.

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How Ohio Nonprofits Should Prepare Now

Waiting until the bill passes to start planning puts your organization behind. Here's how to get ready:

• 1. Audit your current raffle process. Document every step — ticket sales, recordkeeping, prize disclosures, drawing procedures. Knowing your baseline makes the transition to an online model faster and less risky.

• 2. Confirm your charitable gaming license is current. HB 476 is expected to apply to organizations that already hold valid Ohio charitable gaming licenses. A lapsed license could delay your ability to take advantage of the new rules on day one.

• 3. Evaluate your online raffle platform. Not every raffle tool is built for compliance. Look for platforms that generate proper audit trails, issue digital tickets with unique identifiers, and can produce the reporting documentation Ohio's Attorney General office may require.

• 4. Talk to your legal counsel. The final text of HB 476 may include specific recordkeeping, prize-cap, or eligibility requirements that differ from the bill's initial draft. A quick review with an attorney familiar with Ohio charitable gaming law is worth the investment.

• 5. Watch for emergency regulations. If HB 476 passes, the Ohio Attorney General's office will likely issue implementing guidance. Subscribe to AG office updates so you don't miss early compliance deadlines.

The organizations that thrive after HB 476 passes — if it does — will be the ones that treated the waiting period as preparation time, not downtime. Whether the law changes this year or next, building strong digital raffle infrastructure now puts you ahead of the curve.

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3 conseils de pro pour une gestion réussie des tombolas dans l'Ohio

Now that we're clear on what to avoid, let's talk about how to manage your raffle and make your fundraiser an event to remember.

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1. Fixer des objectifs et des règles clairs

Vous pouvez vous poser la question :

• Collectez-vous des fonds pour un programme spécifique ?

• Comment couvrez-vous les coûts opérationnels ?

• Vous financez un projet communautaire ?

• Comment allez-vous promouvoir votre tombola ?

• Où le tirage au sort aura-t-il lieu ?

• Allez-vous intégrer la vente de billets de tombola en personne ou en ligne ?

Having a well-defined goal will guide your decisions and make it easier to communicate the purpose of the raffle to your audience. Set a measurable goal: "We're aiming to raise $10,000 to fund new equipment for our after-school program."

You'll also want to clearly outline how many tickets can be purchased, age restrictions, and payment options. Ensure these rules are displayed on your website and printed on the tickets.

Conseil supplémentaire : créez une section FAQ sur votre site web pour répondre aux questions les plus courantes concernant l'achat des billets, l'éligibilité et la réclamation des prix.

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2. Promouvoir votre tombola de manière stratégique

A well-run raffle needs visibility to succeed. Relying solely on word-of-mouth won't cut it so it's a great idea to lean into strategic promotion to maximize your reach and increase ticket sales.

Voici quelques moyens d'attirer des participants et de collecter des fonds :

• Tirer parti des des médias sociaux: Publiez du contenu sur les coulisses montrant l'impact de votre association. Utilisez des comptes à rebours, des témoignages et des vidéos pour susciter l'enthousiasme. Envisagez de créer une page d'événement sur Facebook pour inviter les gens et leur rappeler les dates clés.

• Utilisation du marketing par courriel: Envoyez des courriels ciblés à votre base de donateurs avec des mises à jour, des exemples de réussite et des appels à l'action clairs. Incluez un lien direct pour l'achat de billets.

• Exploiter les partenariats communautaires: Demandez aux écoles locales, aux centres communautaires et à d'autres organisations à but non lucratif de diffuser les informations relatives à votre tirage au sort dans leurs bulletins d'information ou sur leurs canaux de médias sociaux.

Conseil supplémentaire : envisagez d'organiser un programme de parrainage dans le cadre duquel les supporters qui vendent le plus grand nombre de billets reçoivent une petite récompense ou une reconnaissance lors de l'événement.

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3. Intégrer la responsabilité financière

Ohio's raffle laws require strict financial tracking to avoid penalties and maintain nonprofit status. Mismanagement of funds can undermine trust and jeopardize future fundraising efforts.

Voici quelques moyens de rester responsable avant le début de la tombola :

• Ouvrez un compte dédié à la tombola : Évitez de mélanger les recettes de la tombola avec vos fonds généraux. Utilisez un compte séparé pour simplifier les rapports et garantir la traçabilité de toutes les transactions.

• Utilize digital payment platforms: Consider platforms like Zeffy for secure, easy payments. If you're selling tickets online, ensure the platform generates digital receipts for buyer records.

• Suivez les ventes de billets avec diligence : Tenez un registre en temps réel de tous les billets vendus, des montants perçus et des paiements en suspens. Désignez un bénévole ou un membre du personnel de confiance pour superviser les rapports financiers.

Bonus tip: Schedule regular check-ins with your treasurer or financial team to review records and ensure compliance with Ohio's reporting requirements.

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Inspirez-vous de cet exemple de tombola réussie dans l'Ohio

Therapeutic Riding Institute (TRI) launched its bourbon raffle with an inspiring balance of online convenience and checking the boxes of Ohio legal compliance. The organization leaned into Zeffy's 100% free fundraising platform to maximize proceeds, knowing they could skip unnecessary transaction or platform fees that other solutions require.

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Ce qu'il faut emporter pour votre tombola :

• Exploitation de la vente de billets en ligne grâce à Zeffy : le TRI peut rapidement vendre des billets en ligne, en veillant à ce que chaque dollar soit consacré à sa mission et en assurant un suivi automatique des ventes grâce à des rapports simples.

• Maintien d'un tirage au sort physique légal : Bien que les billets soient vendus en ligne, TRI respecte la loi de l'Ohio en effectuant le tirage au sort final à partir d'un récipient physique lors de l'événement en direct marqué.

• Transparence et impact : TRI insiste sur le fait que tous les bénéfices sont reversés à ses programmes communautaires, ce qui renforce la confiance des participants et les aide à visualiser leur impact.

• Plusieurs options de billets : Le formulaire en ligne propose une option de billet unique ou d'offre groupée permettant aux supporters d'augmenter leurs chances de gagner, avec l'ajout d'un don facultatif.

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FAQ sur les tombolas dans l'Ohio

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