563.907 Qualified organizations.

(1) Any local religious, charitable, service, fraternal or veterans organization or any organization to which contributions are deductible for federal income tax purposes or state income or franchise tax purposes, which has been in existence for one year immediately preceding its application for a license or which is chartered by a state or national organization which has been in existence for at least 3 years, may conduct a raffle upon receiving a license for the raffle from the department. No other person may conduct a raffle in this state.

(2) Local organizations that may conduct raffles include only those organizations whose activities are limited to this state, to a specific geographical area within this state, or to a specific geographical area that is partly within this state and partly within another state.

(3) Service organizations that may conduct raffles include all of the following:

(a) A labor organization, as defined in s. 5.02 (8m), whose jurisdiction is limited to a specific geographical area within the state.

(b) A political party, as defined in s. 5.02 (13), except a state political party registered under subch. III of ch. 11 under whose name candidates appear on a ballot at any election.

History: 1977 c. 426; 1991 a. 39, 1991 a. 269 s. 782Lp; Stats. 1991 s. 563.90; 1995 a. 27 s. 9123 (6pp); 1997 a. 27; 2013 a. 273 s. 7; Stats. 2013 s. 563.907; 2015 a. 6, ss. 24 to 26; 2015 a. 117.

The “local" requirement applies to all applicants, including tax-exempt organizations. Knights of Columbus v. Bingo Control Board, 151 Wis. 2d 404, 444 N.W.2d 447 (Ct. App. 1989).

Certain political organizations and subdivisions of the state may qualify for a raffle license. 67 Atty. Gen. 323.

Raffle laws discussed. 75 Atty. Gen. 273 (1986).

Eligibility requirements for licensure discussed. 76 Atty. Gen. 115.