How compliance works
The two kinds of raffle restriction — soft and hard — and how RaffleLink helps you stay within them.
Australian raffle rules are set state by state, and they cover things like who can run a raffle, how big the prizes can be, when you need a permit, and how the draw must happen. Rather than make you memorise all of it, RaffleLink checks your raffle against the relevant rules as you build it.
Soft limits vs hard limits
The single most useful idea in raffle compliance is the difference between two kinds of restriction:
🟡 Soft limits — liftable with a permit
Some rules are defaults you can go beyond if you get a permit. They exist to keep small, simple raffles simple — but if your raffle is bigger or needs more flexibility, a permit lets you exceed them.
A classic example: in Victoria, a standard raffle must be drawn within a set window and can only run for so long — but with a permit, you can run a larger, longer raffle. The limit is "soft" because the permit lifts it.
🔴 Hard limits — always apply
Other rules apply no matter what — a permit doesn't lift them. These are usually about fairness and safety: caps on certain prize types, outright bans on others, age restrictions, and rules about where the money must go.
For example, a cap on cash prizes, or a ban on tobacco as a prize, is a hard limit. There's no permit that makes it OK.
Why this distinction matters
When RaffleLink flags something during raffle setup, knowing whether it's soft or hard tells you your options. A soft flag means "this needs a permit" — you can still do it (or shrink the raffle back under the limit). A hard flag means "this isn't allowed" — a permit won't help, so you'll need to change the raffle itself (a smaller prize, a different prize type, dropping a discounted pack).
You'll see this split in the product. Where a state has rules a permit can't cover, that state shows Action Needed and lists exactly what to change — "A permit doesn't cover these [state] rules — update your raffle to resolve them" — with each item linking to the step where you fix it.
What RaffleLink does for you
As you build your raffle, the Compliance step reviews it against the rules of every state you've chosen to sell in, and:
- Flags when a permit is likely required, based on your prize pool and states, before you can publish.
- Blocks the serious breaches — it won't let you publish a raffle that breaks an absolute rule, and it explains why. Some lesser rules are flagged for you rather than blocking anything. Draw order is the clearest example: in QLD, VIC and WA the regulator strongly recommends drawing prizes highest value first, so RaffleLink shows an information note with a one-click Sort by value — but it never blocks a save or an activation, and it doesn't count against your compliance status.
- Handles required disclosures — for example, adding the odds information some states require to your public raffle page.
- Keeps the guidance current — as rules change, we update what RaffleLink checks.
What you're responsible for
RaffleLink is a powerful safety net, but you are the one running the raffle, so a few things stay with you:
- Getting any permit your raffle needs from the relevant regulator (RaffleLink flags it; you apply).
- Making sure your organisation is eligible to run raffles (see Who can run a raffle).
- Following the conditions that come with a permit or a state's rules.
- Checking with the regulator when you're unsure — they're the final word.
Think of it as a partnership: RaffleLink keeps you between the lines and tells you when to stop and check; you make the calls only you can make.