Ireland Raffle Rules: Permits, Licences and What Changes Under GRAI

Irish raffle law is in the middle of its biggest change in decades. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 created a new national regulator, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), which will eventually license charitable lotteries and raffles. But the new charitable licence is not yet open, so in practice the long-standing permit system still applies: a Garda permit for smaller raffles, a District Court licence for bigger ones, and a useful exemption for raffles held at events. This guide covers what applies now and what is coming.

This is general information, not legal advice. The transition timetable is moving; check the GRAI website and your local Garda station for the current position before selling tickets.

The rules that apply right now

Until the GRAI's charitable licensing opens, raffles run under the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 as amended in 2019. Three routes cover almost every fundraising raffle.

1. The event raffle: no permit needed

A raffle held as part of a larger event, such as a gala dinner, fair, sports day or festival, does not need a lottery permit provided ticket sales and the announcement of results both take place during the event and there are no cash prizes. This is the workhorse of Irish fundraising: the raffle at the table on the night. Keep sales inside the event and prizes non-cash and no paperwork is required.

2. The Garda permit: prizes up to €5,000

For a raffle sold to the public beyond a single event, apply for a lottery permit from the Superintendent of An Garda Síochána for your district. The permit covers lotteries where the total value of prizes does not exceed €5,000 in a week. Conditions attach: the permit holder cannot take personal profit from the lottery, and a permit will not be granted to the same beneficiary more than once in six months. The Superintendent must grant or refuse within 28 days of the application, so build that lead time into your campaign plan.

3. The District Court licence: prizes up to €30,000

Above the Garda permit level, a lottery licence from the District Court covers periodic lotteries with total prizes of up to €30,000 per week, and can be granted for up to a year. This is the route for major raffles: cars, holidays, large cash-alternative prize pools. Applications take longer and involve more scrutiny, so start early.

Rules that apply whichever route you take

• Raffles must benefit a charitable or philanthropic purpose; nobody running one can profit personally from it.
• Participants must be 18 or over. Irish law treats a raffle as gambling, and it is illegal to allow anyone under 18 to take part.
• Run the draw as advertised, keep records of ticket sales and proceeds, and account for how funds were applied to the cause.

What changes under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024

The GRAI began licensing commercial gambling operators in 2025 and 2026, but the charitable and philanthropic licence type is not open for applications in 2026. The GRAI has said explicitly that charities should continue using the current permit system until the new licence type is accepting applications. When it does open, the shape of the new regime is already visible:

• Charities will apply to the GRAI rather than the Gardaí or the courts for many types of lottery, raffle and bingo.
• A minimum of 30% of payments received must be applied to the charitable or philanthropic purpose stated in the licence application.
• Certain small charitable lotteries will remain exempt from licensing, including occasional lotteries where the organiser has not run one in the preceding three months, subject to conditions.
• Age and identity verification obligations tighten, including remote verification requirements from 1 July 2026 for online gambling licence holders.

The practical advice for fundraisers in 2026: run your raffle under the existing permit rules, keep your paperwork clean, and watch for the GRAI's announcement that charitable licence applications have opened. Organisations with clean records under the old system will find the transition easiest.

Running an Irish raffle online

Digital ticket sales are standard for permitted and licensed Irish raffles, and the operational obligations are the same as on paper: know who bought what, exclude under-18s, draw as advertised, and account for the proceeds. Platforms such as GalaBid handle ticketing, payment records and the draw itself, with certified random number generation providing a verifiable answer on fairness. The organisation remains the permit or licence holder; the platform provides the tools. If you are planning your first raffle, the step-by-step raffle guide covers setup end to end.

Fundraising in other markets too? The rules differ sharply: see our guides to UK raffle rules and Australian raffle rules by state.

Quick reference: Irish raffle routes in 2026

Current as at August 2026, during the transition to GRAI licensing. Confirm the current position before selling tickets.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to run a raffle in Ireland?

Not for a raffle held entirely at an event with non-cash prizes, where tickets are sold and results announced during the event. Beyond that, a Garda permit covers raffles with prizes up to €5,000 per week, and a District Court licence covers larger lotteries up to €30,000 per week.

Has the GRAI taken over charity raffle licensing?

Not yet. The GRAI's charitable and philanthropic licence type is not open for applications in 2026, and the GRAI has advised charities to continue using the existing permit system until it is.

How long does a Garda lottery permit take?

The Superintendent must grant or refuse within 28 days of receiving the application. Allow for that before your planned launch, and note the same beneficiary cannot receive a permit more than once in six months.

Can under-18s buy raffle tickets in Ireland?

No. The minimum age for all gambling in Ireland, including raffles, is 18.

Can we offer cash prizes?

Not in an exempt event raffle, where cash prizes are what triggers the permit requirement. Permitted and licensed lotteries can offer cash within their prize limits.

What will change when GRAI charitable licensing opens?

Applications will go to the GRAI rather than the Gardaí or courts, at least 30% of payments received must go to the stated charitable purpose, and small occasional charity lotteries will keep an exemption subject to conditions including a maximum of one every three months.

Last reviewed August 2026 against GRAI guidance and the Gaming and Lotteries Acts. Ireland's regime is transitioning; confirm current requirements with the GRAI or your Garda station before your draw.

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