Christmas tombola in Luxembourg: the rules to follow

Christmas tombola in Luxembourg: prior authorisation, the €12,500 threshold, general-interest purposes and a proceeds statement in Luxembourg City

In short In Luxembourg, a Christmas raffle always needs prior authorisation. Above €12,500 in tickets, the Minister of Justice decides; up to that amount, the municipal council of aldermen of the issuing commune does. The purpose must be of general interest. In Luxembourg City, a statement of proceeds is due within a month.

this article describes the rules in Luxembourg.

A raffle looks like the simplest Christmas action: donated prizes, tickets, a draw. In Luxembourg, though, it follows a precise procedure. Here is how to prepare it without nasty surprises, step by step, and how to link it to a clear call for donations.

Why authorisation is always needed

According to the Ministry of Justice, a tombola or lottery may not be held without prior authorisation. The sources we consulted mention no small tombola that is free of rules. Even for the tombola at your asbl's Christmas party (an asbl is a non-profit association), ask for approval before you sell the first ticket.

A small tombola in a village hall therefore does not escape the rule. If you are unsure about your case, write to the Ministry of Justice department in charge of games of chance, betting, tombolas and lotteries, whose contact details are in the sources at the end of the article.

Who authorises: the €12,500 threshold

The competent authority depends on the value of the tickets you plan to issue. The calculation is based on the total value of the tickets issued.

  • More than €12,500 in tickets issued: authorisation comes from the Minister of Justice.
  • €12,500 or less: it comes from the college of mayor and aldermen of the commune where the main place of issue of the tickets is located.

Planning example: 2,000 tickets at €5 make €10,000, so the decision falls to the commune. With 3,000 tickets at €5, you reach €15,000 and the file goes to the ministry. Do this calculation from the start, because it determines who you deal with.

A general-interest purpose, or nothing

A tombola or lottery is allowed only if it serves, in whole or in part, a purpose of general interest. The ministry lists philanthropic, religious, scientific, artistic, educational, social, sporting or tourist purposes.

So describe your purpose plainly in your application: what the money raised will be used for, for which audience, with which project. The minister and the council of aldermen may also set conditions on the organisation, the draw and the oversight.

After the draw: the proceeds statement

In the city of Luxembourg, the organiser files a statement of proceeds within the month following the draw. The communal secretariat then passes it on to the Ministry of Justice. This obligation is confirmed for Luxembourg City, not as a national rule.

If your tombola takes place in another commune, ask the communal administration which formality applies after the draw. Keep the tombola's accounts from day one.

A realistic schedule for Christmas

The sources set no official deadline for filing the application, and no standard form. So allow plenty of time and contact your commune or the Ministry of Justice early. Here is a reasonable working rhythm, to adapt.

  1. From October: decide the number of tickets, the price, the venue and the date of the draw.
  2. About 6 weeks before the sale: file the application with the commune or the ministry.
  3. While you wait for the answer: gather the prizes and recruit 5 to 10 volunteers.
  4. After authorisation: start selling tickets, then hold the draw.
  5. Within the following month: file the proceeds statement if it applies to you.

What to check before selling online

None of the sources we opened deals with selling tickets online, or with a raffle hosted on a donation page. Price caps per ticket and the maximum value of prizes are not confirmed either.

So put these questions in writing to the Ministry of Justice (jeux-de-hasard@mj.etat.lu) or to your commune before you communicate anything. The same caution applies to door-to-door collection, which needs the agreement of the communal council if it stays within a single commune, or of the ministry if it touches several communes.

Tombola and donations: do not mix the two

A tombola ticket offers a chance to win, which is not the same thing as a donation. Keep two flows clearly separate in your communication: on one side the authorised tombola, on the other the call for donations.

On tax, the Administration des contributions directes (the direct tax authority) allows the deduction of cash donations to recognised public-utility bodies, from €120 of donations per year, up to 20% of net income. Only bodies on its list count. Never promise that a tombola ticket is deductible: ask the administration for confirmation. See our article on the deduction of Christmas donations in Luxembourg.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

For the donation part of your action, WeGlow.world gives you a donation page in three steps: amount, details, summary. It accepts one-off and monthly gifts, with amounts and labels of your choice, and it works well on mobile. If your organisation is on WeGlow.world, that page can accompany your tombola evening.

We do not present WeGlow.world as a tool for selling tickets. It is there to gather donations clearly, before and after the evening. Your supporters can also open their own action page to publicise your tombola and raise money for your cause.

Four Christmas experiences are planned to make the appeal livelier. They are still concepts, until the official launch. In the Glow Room, each gift becomes a decoration on the tree in a 3D living room. In the Starry Sky, each gift becomes a star and you fly from star to star. The Card Wall hangs envelopes on a string, each card being a stamp. It is all presented on the Christmas home page. You can start free with an account.

Ideas to link the tombola to your campaign

Announce the date of the draw and your goal right from the start. A tombola works better when everyone knows what the money is for: a Christmas meal, parcels, an outing.

For other formats around the tombola, read our Christmas action ideas for an association in Luxembourg. To organise the whole thing, from the first meeting to the last thank-you, follow our guide to organising a Christmas action in Luxembourg.

Frequently asked questions

Is authorisation needed for a small Christmas tombola?

Yes. The official sources consulted require prior authorisation for every tombola or lottery, with no exception for small ones. Depending on the value of the tickets, it comes from the council of aldermen or from the Ministry of Justice.

Who do I contact for less than €12,500 in tickets?

The college of mayor and aldermen of the commune where the main place of issue of the tickets is located. Above €12,500, the application falls to the Minister of Justice.

Which purposes make a tombola possible?

Only purposes of general interest, in whole or in part: philanthropic, religious, scientific, artistic, educational, social, sporting or tourist. Explain your purpose clearly in the application.

What do you do after the draw?

In the city of Luxembourg, you must file a statement of proceeds within the month following the draw. Elsewhere, ask your commune what formality applies and keep all your supporting documents.

What about selling tickets online?

This point is not confirmed by the sources consulted. Write to the Ministry of Justice or to your commune before you launch the sale, and keep their answer in writing.

Sources

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