Lotteries and community gambling

Raffles

A raffle is a game of chance or lottery where the total value of tickets or entry fees is $5,000 or less. The winners are determined wholly or partly by chance, including random draws of tickets or numbers.

Minor lottery 

A minor lottery is a game of chance similar to a raffle where the total value of tickets or entry fees is between $5,001 and $20,000.

Major lottery

A major lottery is a game of chance or chance and skill where the total value of tickets is more than $20,000.

Bingo

Bingo is a game of probability where players mark off numbers on pre-printed cards as numbers are drawn randomly by a caller. The winner is the first person to mark off all their numbers, or numbers in a line, and announce they have bingo.

Mini- lotto

Mini-lotto is a game similar to TattsLotto where six numbers are drawn from a total of between seven and 40 numbers. The total value of prizes can be up to $5,000.

Tipping competitions

A tipping competition is a game of chance and skill where participants pick the win or lose result of a series of sporting matches or other events. The person who gets the highest number of correct results is the winner. The total value of prizes can be up to $5,000. Where total prizes are more than $5,000, the competition must be treated as a minor or major lottery and a permit is needed.

Sweepstakes

A sweepstake is a game where participants pay a set fee for a chance to win an allotment against a competitor in an event. Sweeps are commonly used for events such as the Melbourne Cup. Each participant is drawn a horse in the race and the winner/s of the sweepstake is determined by the result of the race / event. The prize pool, made up from the entry fees less any permitted deductions, is distributed to the sweepstake winner/s.

Calcuttas

A Calcutta is a more complex version of a sweepstake where participants purchase the chance to win an allotment against a competitor in an event/race and the allotments are auctioned. The holder of the allotment may elect to sell the right and receive 50% of the proceeds of the sale or to retain the right by making the highest bid and paying 50% of that bid. The prize pool, made up of the entry fees less any permitted deductions, is distributed to the holder of the rights against the winner and designated placegetters of that event.

Free entry lotteries

A free entry lottery is where a person is automatically entered by being a member of an association or by purchasing a ticket to a function. Examples are a weekly membership draw or a door prize at an event. If the prize is more than $2,000 the winner must be determined within four weeks after the date the prize reaches the maximum amount. The winner is determined by either holding repeated draws until the winner is determined or giving the prize to the participant with the nearest correct entry.