FL-NC,
If you had done that in TX and your group wasn't a non-profit religious organization which had been in existence for at least a decade, a non-profit medical volunteer group or an actual operating volunteer fire department which doesn't actually pay its members more than a nominal amount, or a 501(c) organization which had been in existence for at least 3 years, doesn't distribute any of its funds to its members, officers or operating board and does not involve itself in political campaigns or attempt to influence the legislative process, then all the officers of your club and anyone who helped organize/hold the raffle could possibly be found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year in county jail and up to $4000 fine) and everyone who bought a ticket would be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor (up to a $500 fine).
Even if the conditions above were met, the raffle couldn't have been advertised statewide or with any paid advertising, no person organizing the raffle or selling tickets could be compensated either directly or indirectly, and the group would only be allowed to hold two such events in a year.
Furthermore, unless the prize was possessed/owned by the group prior to selling any tickets, it would be necessary to post a bond for the full amount of the prize with the country clerk.
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/charities-nonprofits-charitable-raffles
Please note that I am not claiming that this is a full list of the restrictions and penalties that apply under TX law.
By the way, Florida also has anti-gambling laws which heavily restrict raffles.
https://info.legalzoom.com/state-statute-florida-raffles-charities-25884.html
For example if your group sold tickets, instead of requesting a donation in return for a ticket, that would violate FL anti-gambling laws. This means that if someone had asked for a ticket and didn't want to provide a donation, the law would have required that the group give them a ticket anyway.
FL law also prohibits groups other than 501(c)(3) non-profits from conducting raffles.
Furthermore, all materials given out for the raffle, including the tickets must contain certain legally mandated written material about the laws governing raffles and about the raffle itself.
Violations could result in a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and up to a $500 fine.
Again, I am not claiming that this is a full list of penalties or restrictions under FL law.
Anti-gambling laws are often not intuitive and they can really ruin everyone's day if they are violated. This isn't something that people should just wing. Professional legal advice is almost a must.
