The credit crunch is biting hard now but also has the possibility of creating great opportunities. Our goal at Raffle.it is to help make everything affordable to everyone and it’s never been more necessary than now. House raffles are springing up all over the web and I’m sure all with genuine intent. However, many are being rushed, effectively just copying the couple in Devon that successfully sold 46,000 £25 tickets, gaining an enviable amount of free press coverage along the way.
In almost all cases these raffles are flawed and will be stopped by the Gambling Commission in due course.
The Devon couple are battling to convince the authorities that testing their participants’ ability to use Google was a sufficient test of skill. A test of skill is required to prevent a random draw being viewed as an illegal lottery. Other recent raffle operators are asking questions where they have given the answers in bold on the same page! One I’ve seem will rely on the National Lottery results some time in the future. These are all examples of illegal lotteries and will not be allowed to be drawn by the Gambling Commission.
This is all very disappointing to us as it will no doubt damage the acceptance of raffles as an acceptable method of trade. The Raffle.it team have spent a long time creating a platform that is both legal and rewarding to all. We have a win all ways solution and we are very proud of it. We worked hard with the Gambling Commission from the outset to ensure that we didn’t fall foul of any legislation and didn’t accidently run illegal lotteries. Our raffles are based on a game of skill and do not rely on a random draw. Only one person can be right when using our Winner Identification Process. We also work with Retailers and Brands to ensure that everyone playing a raffle we host receives something worth, or potentially worth, more than the cost of the ticket itself. In the case of our first house raffle we have a nationwide removals firm giving every ticket holder a 15% discount saving between £30 and £115, and Firebox.com have kindly donated £115,000 in Gift Vouchers meaning every ticket holder will receive a no strings attached Firebox.com £5 gift voucher!!
So enter with confidence. The second the last ticket is sold, the winner is identified, no delays, no excuses and every single person that enters is informed via email. You get to see how many times each ticket number was chosen and can see with your own eyes how the winner was identified. Completely transparent, completely fair, completely safe.
We want to host your raffles and help you promote them. We take a small share of the ticket revenue in exchange for all banking, accounting, admin, hosting and marketing costs. It’s a win-win deal for everyone involved and takes us one step closer to our goal of making everything affordable to everyone.
What do you think? Have you had any experience of any of these other house raffles?
UPDATE (Thanks Jeff!): Here’s the link to our first house raffle .. http://www.raffle.it/raffle/10128
Jeff 12:12 pm on October 22, 2008 Permalink |
I entered the Oldborough Retreat raffle some time ago and have just seen that it has been postponed. I didn’t get emailed about this which was disappointing. I may only be one of 46000 but its still a £25 purchase. I couldn’t see your house raffle did I miss something?
Pascal Wheeler 12:16 pm on October 22, 2008 Permalink |
Hey Jeff, thanks for the feedback. Forgot to include links!! The house raffle will shortly feature on the frontpage – currently we randomly rotate new raffles. This is the direct link to our first house raffle: http://www.raffle.it/raffle/10128
Re communication, we’ll email you during the course of the raffle and obviously the second it closes you will know which number won and by whom.
john 12:23 pm on October 22, 2008 Permalink |
Hi
I have seen a few of these raffles and have followed the one on BBC Breakfast yesterday, this seems a good solution for those raffling off their house, I guess the main issue is if they can sell enough ticets also then if they do they have the gambling commission to worry about.
if your system is legal – (is it?) it see,s to be a great/fun/amazing opportunity to get a house for a few quid – mind you in these times will people be willing to gamble £25? are the gambling commission happy with raffleit?
I think I might have a go all the same – wish me luck?
John
Pascal Wheeler 12:54 pm on October 22, 2008 Permalink |
H John, missed opportunity yesterday it would seem. Yes our system is legal, the Gambling Commission were, quite rightly, challenging, and helped us ensure that our platform & processes are scalable and legal.
The issue of whether people will spend £25 to win a house is harder to answer. Around 40k have entered to win the Devon property (even if they can’t complete it) so it can be done. We add the rewards to each ticket that if used are worth more that £25 so that should help. If anyone is thinking of moving you’ve got to enter this raffle first – it could save you over £100 !!!
Rick A 11:18 pm on October 31, 2008 Permalink |
When the individual raffles take place for the public I take it that every player will not receive something worth the price of the ticket like the branded raffles?
You would think that instead of closing down the couple’s house raffle that the Gaming Commission should have worked with them too – to get them a legal way to proceed.
Pascal Wheeler 11:06 am on November 3, 2008 Permalink |
Hi Rick, actually the plan is to reward everyone that takes part with something that, if not immediately worth more than the ticket’s cost, when used will save you more than the ticket cost. We don’t distinguish between retailer run raffles and individuals running raffles. We will soon but only to provide a better experience for everyone. Rewards with tickets will stay!