Nonprofit organizations provide important and necessary services to the people of the State of California with respect to educational and social services …. We’ve already explained in “ It’s Just a Little Raffle: What’s the Big Deal?” what’s allowed in the way of raffles and how they must be conducted in order to be legal.Īs for “ poker night” fundraisers, California “declares”:
A sweep of new laws includes many seemingly innocuous activities – raffles, silent auctions, bingo, and casino/poker nights, for example – that are popular with nonprofits and their supporters.
That Wild West free-for-all was halted, though. Until recently, gambling was almost entirely unregulated in the State of California. There are restrictions on gaming activities like this – even when run by a charity. If there’s even a whiff of “gambling,” then the government gets concerned and butts in. They consider logistics: venue, food, entertainment, and overall costs. Someone mentions that a group down the road just held a successful Monte Carlo Night.
Staff of a nonprofit are brainstorming possibilities for next year’s fundraising gala.
