2915.092 Illegal conduct of raffle - rules. - Ohio Statutes

2915.092 Illegal conduct of raffle - rules.

(A)(1) Subject to division (A)(2) of this section, a charitable organization, a public school, a chartered nonpublic school, a community school, or a veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and is described in subsection 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code may conduct a raffle to raise money for the organization or school and does not need a license to conduct bingo in order to conduct a raffle drawing that is not for profit.

(2) If a charitable organization that is described in division (A)(1) of this section, but that is not also described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, conducts a raffle, the charitable organization shall distribute at least fifty per cent of the net profit from the raffle to a charitable purpose described in division (Z) of section 2915.01 of the Revised Code or to a department or agency of the federal government, the state, or any political subdivision.

(B) A chamber of commerce may conduct not more than one raffle per year to raise money for the chamber of commerce.

(C) Except as provided in division (A) or (B) of this section, no person shall conduct a raffle drawing that is for profit or a raffle drawing that is not for profit.

(D) Whoever violates division (C) of this section is guilty of illegal conduct of a raffle. Except as otherwise provided in this division, illegal conduct of a raffle is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of division (C) of this section, illegal conduct of a raffle is a felony of the fifth degree.

Effective Date: 07-01-2003; 09-23-2004; 09-30-2004