Raffle or tombola in your Christmas campaign: Spain

Raffles and tombolas in your Christmas campaign in Spain: no cash prizes, what Madrid and Catalonia ask for, what to check in your region, and a weekly plan.

In short A charity raffle at Christmas is possible, but in Spain each autonomous community regulates it. Confirmed: under state law and in Madrid, prizes cannot be cash; Madrid asks for a prior notification and Catalonia requires authorisation above €3,000. Elsewhere, ask your region's gaming department before selling tickets.

This article describes the rules in Spain.

Raffle or tombola: which suits you

In everyday Spanish, a rifa (raffle) shares out one or a few prizes among numbered tickets, while a tómbola offers many small prizes, more typical of a village fair. That distinction is common usage and we have not checked it in the law.

For a small organisation, a raffle with few prizes and a draw on a fixed date usually works best. If you have not chosen a format yet, see the ideas for a charity Christmas campaign.

Confirmed: state law and prizes

Law 13/2011 on gambling regulation defines the raffle as the awarding of prizes by draw among buyers of numbered tickets, on a date set in advance. The prize can be movable or immovable property, as long as it is not a cash prize.

The practical consequence is clear: no cash prizes. Think of Christmas hampers, tickets, experiences or products donated by local shops. That law applies only to games of national scope. A local raffle run by an association falls under the rules of its autonomous community.

Confirmed in Madrid

In the Community of Madrid, associations file a prior notification, not an authorisation request. The raffle can last one month at most, the area is the territory of the Community of Madrid and prizes are in kind, never cash.

  • Non-charitable entities must be registered in the Gaming Register. Charity events or events of declared public interest do not.
  • There is also the 042 fee on the value of the tickets, but the two pages we consulted disagree on the percentage. Ask the Community of Madrid which one applies to you.

Confirmed in Catalonia

In Catalonia the line is at €3,000. If all prizes together exceed it, you need authorisation. If they are €3,000 or less, a prior notification is enough.

  • You apply for authorisation one month before selling or handing out tickets.
  • The fixed fee is €65.35, paid within 48 hours of the application.
  • If the Generalitat does not reply within one month, the authorisation is deemed granted.
  • If you combine the raffle with ONCE or the state lottery, you need their consent.

The other regions: ask the gaming department

For Andalusia, the Valencian Community, Galicia, Castile and León and the other regions, we could not confirm the current procedure, deadlines or fees. We do not assume them. The safe route is to ask your region's gaming body, normally within the competent regional department (consejería).

Ask in writing whether you need authorisation or notification, how far in advance and which fees apply. Keep the reply.

What we could not confirm: whether any formality is needed to sell tickets through an online donation page. Check with your region before offering them online.

What to do in which week

Six weeks are enough for a well-run raffle, as long as the formality does not need more lead time: Catalonia requires you to apply for authorisation one month before selling tickets, so start earlier there. Count back from the draw date.

  1. Week 1: decide the goal, the team and the draw date, and ask your region which formality you need.
  2. Week 2: file the notification or apply for authorisation, and ask nearby shops for prizes.
  3. Week 3: confirm the prizes in writing, draft the rules and print numbered tickets.
  4. Week 4: open sales, if the formality allows it, and spread the word by email and social media.
  5. Week 5: step up communication, show the prizes and remind people of the draw date.
  6. Week 6: hold the draw in front of witnesses, publish the winning numbers and say thank you.

If sales in your region have a time limit, like Madrid's one month, adjust week 4 so you do not go over. The general calendar is in the guide to organising a charity Christmas campaign.

Rules, tickets and draw

Clear rules prevent almost every problem. Write them before selling the first ticket and keep them in view.

  • Price and number of tickets, date, time and place of the draw.
  • List of prizes, always in kind, with a description.
  • How winners are notified and how long they have to collect the prize.
  • Where the money raised goes.

Number the tickets, keep the stubs and hold the draw in public or on video. For the tax treatment of the proceeds, ask your accountant (gestoría).

A raffle and a donation are not the same

In principle, a ticket is a purchase and not a donation, because the buyer takes part in a draw. So you should not offer a donation certificate for the price of a ticket or talk about tax deductions.

Law 49/2002 only allows a symbolic consideration when its value does not exceed 15% of the contribution. A direct donation, without a draw, can entitle the donor to a certificate if your organisation falls under article 16. To issue it you need the donor's NIF (tax number).

How to do it with WeGlow.world

Keep the raffle and the donation in two separate channels. With WeGlow.world you create a donation page in three steps, with one-off or monthly gifts, and share it with people who cannot buy tickets. Put it on the raffle poster with a QR code that leads to its link. It also works on mobile.

Your volunteers and supporters can start their own fundraising page and share it with their contacts. If you want a digital layer, the Glow Room is a 3D living room with a Christmas tree where every gift becomes a decoration. To be clear: the four Christmas experiences of WeGlow.world are still a concept until the official launch. You can create your account and prepare the page in the meantime.

If the raffle sits at a Christmas market

A raffle works very well next to a stall. The raffle formality and the stall permit are different things: your region handles one, and the town council or the market organiser handles the other.

The details on the stall, the shifts and municipal permits are in our guide to the charity Christmas market. One important point: do not present the Christmas Lottery (Lotería de Navidad) or its shares as a way to raise funds without first asking SELAE, because we could not confirm the conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Can I give away cash in the raffle?

No. Law 13/2011 speaks of prizes that are not cash, and Madrid requires prizes in kind. Use hampers, tickets, experiences or products donated by shops, and describe them in detail in the rules.

Do I need permission for a raffle in Madrid?

In the Community of Madrid you file a prior notification, not an authorisation request, with a maximum duration of one month. Check with the Community whether the 042 fee applies to you before you start selling.

When is authorisation needed in Catalonia?

When the prizes exceed €3,000. You apply one month before selling tickets and the fixed fee is €65.35. With €3,000 or less, a prior notification to the Generalitat is enough.

What if my region is neither Madrid nor Catalonia?

We assume no procedure. Write to the department or gaming body of your region and keep its reply in writing.

Can I sell the tickets on my donation page?

We could not confirm how online ticket sales are regulated, especially with buyers from other regions. Check with your region before doing it.

Sources

Checked on 9 October 2026:

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