(A) (1) Subject to division (A)(2) of this section, a person or entity that is exempt from federal income taxation under IRC § 501(a) and is described in IRC §§ 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19) may conduct a raffle to raise money for the person or entity and does not need a license to conduct bingo in order to conduct a raffle drawing that is not for profit.
(2) If a person or entity that is described in division (A)(1) of this section, but that is not also described in IRC § 501(c)(3), conducts a raffle, the person or entity shall distribute at least 50% of the net profit from the raffle to a charitable purpose described in R.C. § 2915.01(V) 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 to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(R.C. § 2915.092) (Rev. 2022)