Online Raffles Postponed

We want to start by thanking all the supporters of our organization’s online raffle campaign. We want to thank all the small local businesses who provided us with dozens of great prizes, the dealerships who partnered with us to bring exciting Mega Raffle prizes, our advertising partners and most importantly our raffle participants. It was because of this great partnership and support we were able to make the NorthLawrenceFire.win campaign a bounding success.

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Recently we were contacted, like dozens of other fire departments in Ohio, by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost office to review our online raffle fundraising. Through extensive records requests we turned over everything on how the raffles worked, where the money was being used and how winners were selected. After a month of research, the Attorney General Office came back with a determination on the raffles. They cited the O.R.C. 2915.01(CC) definition of raffle which states: "Raffle" means a form of bingo in which the one or more prizes are won by one or more persons who have purchased a raffle ticket. The one or more winners of the raffle are determined by drawing a ticket stub or other detachable section from a receptacle containing ticket stubs or detachable sections corresponding to all tickets sold for the raffle. They went on to conclude that “This provision means that the raffle ticket must be made of paper, so that the ticket stub or detachable section can be physically separated from the rest of the ticket, and the player must be physically present during purchasing to meet this legal definition. In addition, using any electronic devices during gameplay is prohibited.”

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So to comply specifically with the definition of a raffle participants now receive a photo of their entry ticket and winners are selected using detachable sections corresponding to all tickets sold for a raffle from a drum representing the receptacle. This model was emulated from dozens of other raffles in the state most notably the three St. Jude Dream Home Giveaways which have been running for 13 years on local Fox affiliates. Our legal representative reviewed our raffles before they began and concluded we met the intent of the definition and is working with the Attorney General to resolve the in-person sales. Ahead of a meeting with the Attorney General Office and us, we were again advised that online sales should stop.

So to ensure we protect the fire department, the residents we serve and our members we have been forced to suspend online sales temporarily. We will offer in person ticket sales at the fire station of all raffles that have not yet sold out. In person sales will be Monday-Friday from 6pm-9pm at the fire station. We hope this is only temporary as we work with the Attorney General to clarify the differences in our raffles and those of the many others in the state.

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Please use the power of public opinion to contact the Chartable Law Section for the Attorney General at 800-282-0515. This group holds the future of our online raffle campaign in their hands. Through your support, legislature support and legal representation we are confident that we can resolve this misunderstanding quickly!