Amusement Gambling Registration
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I register my amusement gambling event?
The only type of amusement gambling event that requires registration is outlined in Arizona Revised Statute § 13-3301(1)(d)(iii), as follows:
The gambling is an intellectual contest or event, the money paid to gamble is part of an established purchase price for a product, no increment has been added to the price in connection with the gambling event and no drawing or lottery is held to determine the winner or winners.
Are raffles required to be registered?
Recently enacted amendments to statutes outline in part: “If your organization is exempt from taxation of income under Section 43-1201, Paragraph 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 or 11, you are not required to register.”
You must reach the legal determination regarding whether your organization falls into one of these categories.
My organization is exempt from registering raffle events. Does that mean there is no oversight?
You must still comply with all restrictions set forth by statute, including those in A.R.S. §§ 13-3301, 13-3302 and 13-3311. Some of the problem areas we have seen in the conduct of raffles relate to:
Organizations that do not qualify to conduct a raffle because they have not been in business in Arizona for at least five years;
Organizations that do not qualify to conduct a raffle because they do not meet the provisions in A.R.S. § 43-1201, Paragraph 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 or 11; and
Organizations that improperly sell tickets through persons or companies other than bona fide members of that organization.
My organization is not exempt as outlined above, but I still want to conduct an event. How do I do that?
If your organization does not meet A.R.S. § 43-1201, Paragraph 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 or 11, conducting a raffle may be considered a violation of gambling statutes, which may be prosecuted as a class 5 felony.
What are my legal obligations in conducting an amusement gambling or raffle event?
Arizona law prohibits this Office from giving legal advice to individual citizens and businesses. Consequently, we cannot express an opinion relative to the legality of your proposed activity. You must determine whether your activity complies with the law. If you need legal guidance, you should consult with a private attorney.
