How to run a reverse raffle fundraiser
A reverse raffle flips the usual draw. Every number pulled from the drum is out, and the last ticket left wins. Nobody knows they've lost until their number is called, so the room stays in it.
This page is for the fundraiser coordinator who has to make it happen. Raffle rules vary by state and sometimes by county. In Pennsylvania, for example, raffles are small games of chance licensed by the county treasurer, not a municipal clerk (PA Department of Revenue). Prize limits apply, bigger raffles need a special permit, and no one under 18 may run or play (Local Option Small Games of Chance Act, Ch. 3). The act defines a raffle but never mentions the reverse format, so ask how your draw fits before you print tickets. One Pennsylvania fire company canceled its October 2026 reverse raffle and refunded tickets, citing state law. Wherever you are, check with your local licensing office first, and ask what your flyers may say. This is practical planning, not legal advice.
How does a reverse raffle work?
- Print a fixed number of tickets, each with a matching numbered stub.
- Sell every ticket before the draw, often bundled with a dinner.
- Put all sold stubs in one drum and every number on a board.
- Pull numbers one at a time, read each aloud, and cross it off.
- The last stub left wins.
When a reverse raffle is the right call
Choose one when:
- Your crowd is adults who'll stay for a seated dinner and a long evening
- You can sell a fixed number of tickets ahead of time
- You have a steady emcee and a front table everyone can see
- You have about eight weeks, not three
New to raffle money? A 50/50 Raffle is a smaller first step.
Master checklist
Permission and rules
- Ask your licensing office whether a last-ticket-wins draw is allowed, and under which license or permit
- In PA, the law allows raffle tickets to be issued as part of the sale of other tickets, such as a dinner ticket (§303.1). Ask your county how it wants that sold and recorded
- If you need a special permit, PA's rules say to get it at least 30 days before ticket sales begin (61 Pa. Code §901.804)
Tickets
- Decide the ticket count before you print, and don't add tickets later
- Number tickets in sequence, with a detachable stub carrying the same number and the buyer's name, address, and phone, and log who has each book. PA State Police list these in their small games of chance training deck (undated), along with what each ticket must show
Who holds the final tickets
- Only sold stubs go in the drum. Pull unsold stubs before the draw
- Your group shouldn't hold tickets itself. PA's deck says the organization may not be a ticket holder
- Decide whether an absent holder can name a representative. One Ohio booster club requires written notice before the draw (Perkins Boosters)
- Buy-backs and end-of-night splits are optional add-ons. The Pennsylvania sources we read don't address either, so leave them out unless your licensing office has confirmed them
Board and draw
- A grid with every sold number, big enough to read from the back row
- A recorder who writes down every number in the order it's drawn
- Draw in plain view of the room
- Pull in batches through dinner and save the last tickets for the end, as Rotary District 5320 suggests, since a big draw takes time
Money
- Two people at every cash point, with each drawer counted and signed for
- Match stubs, money, and logbook before the drum is sealed
- A two-person count-out after the last pull, with both signatures
Named roles
| Role | Owns |
|---|---|
| Fundraiser coordinator | License check, timeline, volunteers, this checklist |
| Ticket lead | Printing, logbook, stub checks, pulling unsold stubs |
| Emcee | House rules, pace, reading every number aloud |
| Draw team | Pulling stubs in plain view, marking the board, keeping the draw log |
| Money lead | Drawers, reconciliation, count-out, deposit |
| Kitchen lead | Dinner service and local health rules |
Eight-week timeline
Weeks 7–8: Answer the license question and the reverse-format question. Book the hall. Recruit leads.
Weeks 5–6: Lock the ticket count and price. Print numbered tickets. Start in-person sales.
Weeks 2–4: Track every book. Plan the menu and board. Write house rules: representatives, late arrivals, disputes.
Week of: Reconcile stubs against money. Run a walk-through with a practice draw.
Night of: Read the house rules before the first pull. Count out with two people before anyone leaves.
Week after: Thank volunteers. File any required records.
Common mistakes
- Unsold stubs in the drum. Pull them before the draw.
- No draw log. One missed number turns into an argument.
- Improvising end-of-night rules. Settle them in writing beforehand.
FAQ
How does a reverse raffle work? Every ticket is sold first. Stubs are drawn one at a time and each one drawn is out. The last ticket left wins.
Do we need a license for a reverse raffle? Often, yes. Rules vary by state and county. In Pennsylvania, start with your county treasurer, and ask specifically about the reverse format before you promote.
How many tickets should we sell? Set a fixed number before you print, based on your room and how long you want the draw to run, then sell them before the night.
Soft next step
The Reverse Raffle playbook walks a fundraiser coordinator through how many tickets to sell, what to charge, and how many people you need on the draw. More formats: playbooks.