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Committee hears bill to modernize raffle rules, raise ticket and prize limits
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Summary
Senate Bill 160 would update raffle ticket rules last changed in 1985, allowing commercial hall staff to sell tickets on behalf of charities and raising per-ticket and prize limits. Lottery staff and hall operators supported modernization; the committee advanced the bill.
Senate Bill 160, introduced by Sen. Sharon Lang at industry request, would update New Hampshire raffle rules that have remained largely unchanged since 1985. The proposal would allow commercial-hall employees to handle sales for designated charitable raffles (aligning raffle practice with other forms of gaming) and raise certain ticket-price and prize limits.
"Raffle tickets have not been changed since 1985," sponsor Lang told the committee, calling the measure a modernization bill requested by industry representatives. Lobbyists and hall operators described how higher price limits and relaxed numbering requirements would let charities run 50/50 and other popular raffles that currently are constrained by statute.
Industry representatives urged the committee to permit higher ticket prices (up to $10 in some provisions) and increase maximum prize values for specific raffle classes, saying many charities use raffles as a fundraising tool and current dollar limits have not kept pace with inflation. Chris, representing Hudson halls, and other operators told the committee the language change removing the requirement to sell tickets sequentially was primarily a practical clarification for on-site sales where multiple people sell small strips of tickets at once.
Lottery staff confirmed the commission does not regulate all raffle activity and noted some distinctions between licensed charitable raffles conducted under county commissions and raffle-like activities conducted as part of bingo events. The committee voted to advance SB 160 (OTP) in executive session; the motion carried by voice vote (tally not specified in the record).
Why it matters: The changes would give charities more flexibility to run raffles and to use commercial-hall staff for sales, but would not mandate higher prices; individual charities and halls would decide whether to change practices.
What remains: The bill was advanced by the committee; implementation details and any rule changes will be handled by the Lottery Commission if the statute is amended.
