The national Lotteries Committee has issued a definitive directive mandating compulsory registration for all raffles and giveaway events, eliminating any ambiguity about optional participation. This regulatory requirement encompasses even charitable initiatives conducted by schools, churches, and medical fundraising campaigns, which while eligible for complimentary licenses, must still undergo formal registration procedures.
According to Lewin Samuels, Secretary of the Lotteries Committee, the regulatory framework explicitly authorizes minors under sixteen years to sell raffle tickets, creating a distinctive exception to standard gambling age restrictions. “Raffles organized by individuals for amounts under five hundred dollars qualify for free licensing,” Samuels clarified, “including bazaars and NGO promotions supporting their services.”
The enforcement mechanism carries substantial financial penalties for non-compliance. Initial offenses for operating unregistered raffles may incur fines reaching ten thousand dollars, with subsequent violations doubling to twenty thousand dollars. Officials emphasize that consumer vigilance constitutes a critical component of regulatory enforcement, urging participants to verify the legal status of any raffle before purchasing tickets.
Samuels specifically advised potential participants: “Consumers should proactively inquire whether raffles are registered with the Lotteries Committee. By neglecting to ask these pertinent questions, purchasers essentially forfeit their eligibility for regulatory protection should the event prove illegitimate.” This warning underscores the shared responsibility between organizers and participants in maintaining legal compliance within the fundraising ecosystem.