(a) It is lawful for any nonprofit organization, candidate, political committee, or any government entity within the State, to conduct raffles in accordance with this section. Each regional or county chapter of a nonprofit organization is eligible to conduct raffles in accordance with this section independently of its parent organization. Any person who conducts a raffle in violation of any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Upon conviction that person shall not conduct a raffle for a period of one year. It is lawful to participate in a raffle conducted pursuant to this section. It is not a violation of State law to advertise a raffle conducted in accordance with this section. A raffle conducted pursuant to this section is not “gambling.” For the purpose of this section, “candidate” and “political committee” have the meaning provided by Article 22A of Chapter 163 of the N.C. Gen. Stat., who have filed organization reports under that Article, and who are in good standing with the appropriate board of elections. Receipts and expenditures of a raffle by a candidate or political committee shall be reported in accordance with Article 22A of Chapter 163 of the N.C. Gen. Stat., and ticket purchases are contributions within the meaning of that Article.

(b) For purposes of this section “raffle” means a game in which the prize is won by random drawing of the name or number of one or more persons purchasing chances.

(c) A nonprofit organization may hold no more than four raffles per year.

(d) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, the maximum cash prize that may be offered or paid for any one raffle is one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000) and if merchandise is used as a prize, and it is not redeemable for cash, the maximum fair market value of that prize may be one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000). The total cash prizes offered or paid by any nonprofit organization shall not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) in any calendar year. The total fair market value of all prizes offered by any nonprofit organization, either in cash or in merchandise that is not redeemable for cash, shall not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) in any calendar year.

(e) Raffles shall not be conducted in conjunction with bingo.

(f) As used in this subsection, “net proceeds of a raffle” means the receipts less the cost of prizes awarded. No less than ninety percent (90%) of the net proceeds of a raffle shall be used by the nonprofit organization for charitable, religious, educational, civic, or other nonprofit purposes. None of the net proceeds of the raffle shall be used to pay any person to conduct the raffle, or to rent a building where the tickets are received or sold or the drawing is conducted.

(g) Real property may be offered as a prize in a raffle. The maximum appraised value of real property that may be offered for any one raffle is five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). The total appraised value of all real estate prizes offered by any nonprofit organization shall not exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in any calendar year.

(h) Notwithstanding any other subsection of this section, it is lawful for a federally insured depository institution to conduct a savings promotion raffle under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 53C-6-20, 54-109.64, 54B-140, or 54C-180. (1983 (Reg. Sess., 1984), c. 1107, s. 11; 1993, c. 219, s. 1; c. 539, s. 215; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1997-10, s. 1; 2005-276, s. 17.31; 2005-345, s. 31; 2006-264, s. 3(a); 2009-49, s. 1; 2011-146, s. 1; 2013-381, s. 59.1; 2018-100, s. 5(b); 2019-173, s. 2(a).)