Lotteries Committee to Crack Down on Illegal ‘Rafflers’

The Lotteries Committee has now decided to enforce a law that dates back to the early fifties. It’s a piece of legislation that governs the promotion and execution of any lottery or raffle. According to the law, any group, entity, established company or person must obtain a license or a letter of authorization for a raffle. Applications can be sent in writing to the lotteries committee and must be addressed to the secretary of the lotteries committee, Lewin Samuels. According to Samuels, the law is now being enforced in order to protect the rights of consumers.

Lewin Samuels

Lewin Samuels, Secretary, Lotteries Committee

“This law has been from ever since. But we have seen where there has been an increase of raffles, promotions, and for consumer protection purposes, we need to enforce the law, you are out there and you purchase raffle tickets and those persons are not registered or have the authority by the lotteries committee, you would have no say if you have no idea if that raffle has taken place or who won. So, if you go to consumer protection or Lotteries Committee, we do not have anybody to be held accountable for these raffles that are out there. So, all the Lotteries Committee is doing is to enforce a law that has existed a long time ago by saying that if you want to conduct raffle you must apply.”

Hipolito Novelo

“What does it mean when it says “any person or every person?”

Lewin Samuels

“Any person as reference to this it means anyone. It could be a business or an individual who intends to promote or conduct. So, we have businesses, naming some of them, Brodies, COURTS, we have DKs, Publics – they all conduct raffles in the form of promotion for their businesses. All these persons must apply in writing to the Lotteries Committee to conduct such promotions. You also have individuals who do it as a business. They themselves must apply to the Lotteries Committee to conduct such raffle.”

Hipolito Novelo

“What about churches and schools who do bazaars and raffles?”

Lewin Samuels

“Alright. So, we also have those types of businesses, N.G.O.s, schools, churches who have bazaars, tombola, different raffles – they also apply. But under the Act, it talks about them based on the approval of the chair and the committee are given a free license to do so.”

Hipolito Novelo
“It does include persons who are roaming the streets with a folder sheet asking people to buy raffle – they should also apply?”

Lewin Samuels

“Yes, it does include them. They should also apply. They should go to the accountant general office at the Treasury Department and through a letter format they apply.”