Ignorance of the law is no defence.

Here’s NY State’s laws on gambling and wagering:

1. A raffle shall mean and include those games of chance in which a participant pays money in return for a ticket or other receipt and in which a prize is awarded on the basis of a winning number or numbers, color or colors, or symbol or symbols designated on the ticket or receipt, determined by chance as a result of a drawing from among those tickets or receipts previously sold.

2. What about “50/50″ and “split pot”? Are these considered raffles?
Yes. These activities are defined as raffles and are subject to the registration and licensing requirements listed below. Every “50/50″ raffle (and all other raffles) must be properly listed on the organization’s GCVS-1, GCVS-2 and if applicable, the GC-7R. All proceeds from all “50/50″ raffles (and all proceeds from all other raffles) are required to be deposited into the organization’s special raffle or games of chance checking account. All raffle proceeds are then to be disbursed according to NYS Games of Chance Rules and Regulations section 5624.21, “lawful expenditures”.¬¨‚Ć

3. Who is eligible to conduct a raffle?
Raffles may be conducted by “authorized organizations” who have applied for and received a games of chance identification number from the NYS Racing and Wagering Board.¬¨‚Ć

“Authorized organizations” are defined in part to include bona fide religious or charitable organizations, bona fide educational, fraternal or service organizations or bona fide organizations of veterans or volunteer firefighters that operate without profit to their members.¬¨‚Ć

In order for an organization to be eligible for a games of chance identification number, the organization must be domiciled in a municipality that has passed a local games of chance law. It is unlawful to conduct a raffle in a municipality that has not passed a local games of chance law. Furthermore, individuals and commercial businesses are not eligible for games of chance identification numbers and are restricted by law from conducting any type of raffle. 

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9. Can minors sell or purchase raffle tickets?
No. It is unlawful for persons under 18 years of age to sell or purchase raffle tickets. 

10. Where can raffle tickets be sold?
Raffle tickets may be sold in the municipality where the organization is domiciled. Under certain circumstances raffle tickets may be sold in other municipalities. Raffle tickets may be sold in other municipalities in the organization’s home county and in other municipalities in contiguous counties from the organization’s home county only if a local games of chance law has been passed in each particular municipality where the organization intends to sell raffle tickets. The clerk in each particular municipality where the organization intends to sell raffle tickets must complete a Raffle Consent Form (form GC-RCF) allowing the organization to sell its raffle tickets in that particular municipality.¬¨‚Ć

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17. Are organizations required to have certain information printed on raffle tickets?
Yes. Raffle tickets, with the exception of the two-part “admission-style” tickets utilized in the game commonly known as a “50/50 raffle” shall reflect the following:¬¨‚Ƭ¨‚Ć

Name and identification number of the authorized organization;

The location(s), date(s) and time(s) of the drawing(s);

The consecutively printed serial number of the ticket;

The price of the ticket;

A list of the prizes offered;

The statement: “Ticket holders need not be present to win.”

Each ticket stub or receipt shall reflect the name, address and telephone number of the ticket purchaser and the consecutively printed serial number of the ticket.

excerpted from:
http://www.racing.state.ny.us/charitable/faqs_raffle.htm

Any idea how much it’d cost to ship a Mac mini to England? I’ll probably enter unless it’d cost $100 or something to ship the potential prize.

ok i just noticed that it‚Äö?Ñ?¥s only a 1.25 ghz Mini. A 1.25 only costs $499, but you are trying to get $750??? i could understand if the extra money was going to a charity or something, but you‚Äö?Ñ?¥re just pocketing it aren‚Äö?Ñ?¥t you? man what a scam.

Timmay! I picked the number 150 at random, I realize that it comes out to $750, should all 150 tickets sell, I will upgrade the model of the mini, that was supposed to be a surprise but I might as well tell you now seeing as you’re commenting about it, as for if all 150 tickets don’t sell I’ll bump up the percentage to 80% because the leftover will be considered a donation to the site for hosting bills.

This is perfectly legal, but you need to keep a list of all ticket holders that is publicly accessible.

Thank you skoker, that’s why there is a status page, just look under Pages.

Wait a sec, we all make 75% of the total pot? So if 100 tickets are purchased, we each get $375? Or is it that one person (i.e. the winner) makes 75% of the total pot?

No TMac, the winner of the raffle would have gotten 75% of the funds if not enough tickets were purchased.

Well if I do not sell enough tickets to purchase the prize you will win 75% of all the money made on these tickets, and that‚Äö?Ñ?¥s still good because you make back your ticket money plus more

Wait a sec, we all make 75% of the total pot? So if 100 tickets are purchased, we each get $375? Or is it that one person (i.e. the winner) makes 75% of the total pot?

The more tickets you buy, the better your chances at winning!