Conduct of raffles and poker runs

Conduct of raffles and poker runs. (a) The conducting of raffles and poker runs is subject to the following restrictions: (1) The entire net proceeds of any raffle or poker run must be exclusively devoted to the lawful purposes of the organization permitted to conduct that game. (2) No person except a bona fide director, officer, employee, or member of the sponsoring organization may manage or participate in the management of the raffle or poker run. No person may receive any remuneration or profit for managing or participating in the management of the raffle or poker run. Sponsoring organizations may contract with third parties who, acting at the direction of and under the supervision of the sponsoring organization, provide bona fide services to the sponsoring organization in connection with the operation of a raffle and may pay reasonable compensation for such services. Such services include the following: (a) advertising, marketing and promotion, (b) legal, (c) procurement of goods, prizes, wares and merchandise for the purpose of operating the raffle, (d) rent, if the premises upon which the raffle will be held is rented, (e) accounting, auditing and bookkeeping, (f) website hosting, (g) mailing and delivery, (h) banking and payment processing, and (i) other services relating to the operation of the raffle. (3) A licensee may rent a premises on which to determine the winning chance or chances in a raffle provided that the rent is not determined as a percentage of receipts or profits from the raffle. (4) Raffle chances may be sold throughout the State, including beyond the borders of the licensing municipality or county. Winning chances may be determined only at those locations specified on the license for a raffle. (5) A person under the age of 18 years may participate in the conducting of raffles or chances or poker runs only with the permission of a parent or guardian. A person under the age of 18 years may be within the area where winning chances in a raffle or winning hands or scores in a poker run are being determined only when accompanied by his parent or guardian. (b) If a lessor rents a premises where a winning chance or chances on a raffle or a winning hand or score in a poker run is determined, the lessor shall not be criminally liable if the person who uses the premises for the determining of winning chances does not hold a license issued by the governing body of any county or municipality under the provisions of this Act. (Source: P.A. 101-109, eff. 7-19-19.)