LEARN MORE ABOUT CHARITABLE RAFFLES

In Colorado, raffles are considered a form of charitable gaming and are regulated under the state’s Bingo and Raffles Law (§ 24-21-601 et seq.).

The law governs how nonprofits may conduct raffles for fundraising, including licensing, prize limits, ticket requirements, and organizational eligibility.

Eligible Organization Types 

Colorado requires that only specific nonprofit organizations may apply for a bingo-raffle license to legally conduct a raffle. To qualify, an organization must be:

• Nonprofit, operating without profit to members

• Operating in Colorado for a minimum period (usually five years of continuous existence before applying, though this may change starting 2025 due to constitutional Amendment F changes)

• A bona-fide organization such as:
  • Religious organizations
  • Charitable organizations
  • Labor or fraternal groups
  • Educational organizations
  • Voluntary firefighters’ associations
  • Veterans’ organizations
  • Chartered branches or lodges of national/state nonprofits

• Operating with a dues-paying membership that has carried out the organization’s purposes during its existence

Important Notes

• A constitutional change (Amendment F) approved for 2025 will reduce the minimum existence requirement from five years to three years, and could allow the legislature flexibility to change this period further.

Statutes

• Colorado Bingo & Raffles Law – Part 6 Listing (full list of sections):
  https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/2022/title-24/article-21/part-6/
• § 24-21-620 – Conduct of Raffles – Rules:
  https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/title-24/state-officers/article-21/part-6/section-24-21-620/