I'd like to hold a raffle. Is that legal?

Certain organizations in Texas qualify to hold charitable raffles. Please review this information about raffles from the Texas Attorney General as well as "Raffles in Texas: Know the Law," where the Attorney General states:

Texas law allows only certain charitable and nonprofit organizations to conduct raffles to support their charitable causes. Only the following entities which meet certain qualifications are permitted to hold raffles:

• religious societies
• volunteer emergency medical service providers
• volunteer fire departments
• qualified nonprofit organizations

They also caution about unlawful raffles:

Examples of unlawful raffles include any raffle that is:

• conducted by an individual
• conducted by a for profit business
• conducted by a charity that does not qualify

If you are interested in reading the text of the law itself, see the Charitable Raffle Enabling Act (chapter 2002 of the Texas Occupations Code).