We often get asked whether schools can use the Kindo
platform to sell raffle tickets online. Here’s a quick guide to what’s
allowed under New Zealand’s Gambling Act, and how your school can stay
compliant.
What kinds of school raffles are there?
School raffles are considered lotteries under NZ law
and fall into three classes:
Class
1: Tiny raffles – prizes & ticket sales $500 or less
Class
2: Medium raffles – prizes up to $5,000, sales up to $25,000
➤ No license needed, but must follow rules
Class
3: Large raffles – prizes over $5,000 or sales over $25,000
➤ License required from the Department of
Internal Affairs (DIA)
All raffles must be for charitable or community benefit
(like raising funds for your school). No one can profit personally from the
proceeds.
Can schools sell raffle tickets online using Kindo?
Even with a Class 3 license, please don't!
The Gambling Act bans “remote interactive gambling” for unlicensed raffles,
which includes:
Selling
tickets on Kindo due to our fee structure
Taking
payment via your school website
Selling
on Facebook, email, or other online tools
You can advertise your raffle online (e.g. post about
it on your school Facebook page), but all ticket sales must be in-person
or handled offline (e.g. paper forms, bank transfers).
What if we do get a Class 3 license?
Great! If your raffle qualifies as Class 3, you can
sell tickets online.
Just make sure:
Are there age limits for buying school raffle tickets?
No general age restriction applies to community/school
raffles. But:
Tickets
are usually sold to adults
Alcohol,
firearms, or adult prizes are illegal – even for adults!
Use
good judgement and keep prizes family-friendly
What happens if we don’t follow the rules?
Breaching the Gambling Act can result in:
Fines
up to $10,000 (individuals)
Or $50,000
(schools/organizations)
DIA prefers to
educate rather than penalize, so when
in doubt, contact them or check their
guidelines.
Final tips for schools
✔️
Class 1 or 2 raffle? Keep it simple – no online sales.
✔️
Advertising online is fine, just don’t take payments online unless
licensed.
✔️
Class 3 raffle? Apply for a license but please don't use Kindo.
✔️
Still unsure? The
DIA website has
great resources – or reach out to their Gambling Group for help.