FINAL BILL REPORT
HB 1469
C 81 L 21
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Concerning enhanced raffle procedures.
Sponsors: Representatives Wicks, Vick, Robertson, Sutherland and Chambers.
House Committee on Commerce & Gaming
Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs
Background:

Raffles.
A bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization that is organized primarily for purposes other than the conduct of raffles is authorized to conduct raffles without obtaining a license if:

  • gross revenues from all of the organization's raffles during the calendar year do not exceed $5,000;
  • tickets to the raffles are sold only to, and winners are determined only from among, the regular members of the organization; and
  • the raffles are held in accordance with applicable laws and rules.

 

For licensed organizations, raffle prizes must not exceed $40,000 per prize or $300,000 total raffle prizes in a license year, except as authorized by the Washington State Gambling Commission (Commission) as provided in rule.

 

The maximum raffle ticket price is $100.
 
Enhanced Raffles.
A bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is serving individuals with intellectual disabilities may conduct enhanced raffles if licensed by the Commission.
 
The Commission may approve enhanced raffles under certain specified conditions, including that the maximum value of grand prizes the Commission may authorize for an enhanced raffle is $5 million. 

 

In the event the organization determines ticket sales are insufficient to qualify for a complete enhanced raffle to move forward, the enhanced raffle winner must receive 50 percent of the net proceeds in excess of expenses as the grand prize.
 
The Commission may approve two enhanced raffles per calendar year for Western Washington and two enhanced raffles per calendar year for Eastern Washington.  The location where the grand prize-winning ticket is to be drawn determines whether the raffle is considered to occur in Western or Eastern Washington.
 
All enhanced raffles and associated smaller raffles must be independently audited with the results reported to the Commission.  The bona fide charitable or nonprofit organization must be the primary recipient of the funds raised.  The maximum enhanced raffle ticket price is $250.  An enhanced raffle may include additional related entries and drawings, such as early bird, refer a friend, and multiple ticket drawings when the organization establishes the eligibility standards for the entries and drawings before any enhanced raffle tickets are sold.  No drawing may occur by using a random number generator or similar means.
 
The enhanced raffle statute expires on June 30, 2022.

Summary:

The maximum value of grand prizes the Commission may authorize for an enhanced raffle is $10 million.
 
The Commission must address enhanced raffles under existing Commission reporting obligations to the Governor and Legislature.
 
The expiration date for the enhanced raffle statute is removed.

Votes on Final Passage:
House 95 2
Senate 48 0
Effective:

July 25, 2021