Raffle or trade promotion: know the difference

Trade promotion lotteries:

• are intended to promote a trade or business
• require people to buy a product and do certain things to enter
• must be free to enter
• do not require a permit in Victoria. However, if the promotion is open to people outside of Victoria, the regulations of the relevant jurisdiction must be followed.

Raffles:

• can only be run if funds are raised for a VGCCC-declared community or charitable organisation(opens in a new window)
• cannot offer cash or debit cards as prizes
• must award the first prize to the first winner drawn
• sometimes require a minor gaming permit – check(opens in a new window) the criteria here.

Venue operators must ensure that promotions for trade promotion lotteries or raffles do not require patrons to gamble on poker machines.

Trade promotion lotteries must not necessitate patrons to join a loyalty program that involves spending money on poker machines or agree to receive advertising about poker machines.