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Is Queen of Hearts legal?
Queen of Hearts raffle laws: check with your state first
We’ll be straight with you. We don’t know the Queen of Hearts rules in every state, and we’re not going to pretend we do. Your state’s regulator is the only one who can tell you. Here’s how to ask the right questions before you sell a single ticket.
Important: this is not legal advice
Raffle and charitable gaming laws are set by each state, and sometimes by counties and cities too. Some states treat Queen of Hearts differently from a regular fundraising raffle. Many make no distinction at all. We don’t track the rules state by state, they can change at any time, and we can’t promise that a Queen of Hearts game is allowed where you are.
Before you launch, confirm with your state’s gaming or charitable gaming office, your local permit office, or an attorney. Your organization is responsible for running its raffle within the law. Chance2Win builds the website and provides the tools.
The honest answer
Is a Queen of Hearts raffle legal?
It depends on your state, and the only people who can say for sure are your regulators.
Raffles are regulated state by state. In some places, a Queen of Hearts game is handled exactly like any other nonprofit raffle and needs the same license or permit. In others, a jackpot that carries over from drawing to drawing may be looked at differently. Selling tickets online can raise its own questions too.
Rather than guess, we’d rather point you to the people who actually know, and give you the questions to ask them.
Step by step
How to check the rules in your state
- 1
Find the office that handles raffles
Every state does this differently. It might be a charitable gaming office, a gaming control board, the attorney general, the secretary of state, the department of revenue or the lottery. Search your state’s name plus “charitable gaming” or “raffle license.”
- 2
Check local rules too
Your county or city clerk may issue raffle permits or have their own requirements. A quick phone call saves a lot of trouble.
- 3
Ask about Queen of Hearts by name
Don’t just ask about raffles. Ask specifically about a Queen of Hearts game with a jackpot that carries over between drawings, and about selling tickets online.
- 4
Get the answer in writing
An email or a printed rule you can point to is worth far more than a phone conversation if questions come up later.
- 5
Put it in your rules
List your license or permit number and any limits you were given in your written rules, and post them on your raffle page.
Bring this list
Questions to ask your regulator
- Can our organization run a Queen of Hearts raffle, where the jackpot carries over from one drawing to the next?
- Is it treated like any other raffle, or does it fall under different rules?
- Which license or permit do we need, from which office, and how long does approval take?
- Can we sell tickets online? Are there any limits on where buyers are located?
- Is there a cap on a single prize or on total prizes? What should we do if the jackpot reaches it?
- Are there rules on ticket prices, the payout split or how much has to go to our cause?
- What’s the minimum age to buy a ticket?
- Can the game run past our permit’s expiration date, or do we need to renew?
- What records do we need to keep, and what do we have to report after the game ends?
Staying organized
How your raffle website helps with the paperwork
Whatever your state asks for, good records make it easier. The website keeps track of a lot of it for you:
- Your rules on the page, including your license or permit number, where every player can read them.
- A permanent record of every drawing: the date, the winning ticket, the card revealed and the jackpot at the time.
- Every sale tracked, online and in person, with real-time reports and exports for any end-of-game report.
- A clean ending when the Queen is found: sales close and the winner is posted.
We’re happy to talk through how your game could be set up. Call (813) 699-9325. We’re not lawyers, though, so legal questions belong with your regulator or an attorney.
Legal questions people ask
Is a Queen of Hearts raffle legal?
It depends on your state, and we can’t tell you for sure. Some states treat Queen of Hearts differently from a regular fundraising raffle, and many make no distinction. Check with your state’s gaming or charitable gaming office before you sell tickets. This is not legal advice.
Is an online Queen of Hearts raffle legal?
That’s a question for your state’s regulator. Ask them specifically about selling Queen of Hearts tickets online and whether there are any limits on where buyers are located.
Do we need a license to run Queen of Hearts?
Most likely. Raffles generally need a license or permit, sometimes from your county or city as well. Your regulator can tell you exactly what you need.
Can people in other states buy tickets?
Ask your regulator before you share your raffle link widely. It’s one of the most important questions on the list.
What if our jackpot hits our permit’s prize cap?
Plan for it before you start. A common approach is a draw-down: announce a final drawing date and keep drawing until the Queen of Hearts is revealed. Confirm that approach with your regulator.
Raffle and charitable gaming laws vary by state and change over time. Nothing on this site is legal advice. Confirm the rules with your state and local regulators, or an attorney, before you sell tickets.
Ready to take your Queen of Hearts online?
Tell us about your raffle. We’ll review it, build your Queen of Hearts website and get your board ready, usually within days once your information and payment setup are in.