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Guideline for applying administrative permit
for raffle, lucky draw or other similar activities

(October 2024)

1. Scope of application of permit

    1.1 When organizing or conducting raffle, lucky draw or similar activities (hereinafter referred to as “raffle and lucky draw activities”) of a commercial nature held in Macao for the purpose of business promotion or promoting commercial products, services or businesses, whether held offline or online, it is obligatory to notify the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (hereinafter referred to as “DICJ”) in advance and apply an administrative permit.

    • E.g.:

    (1) If you spend over 1,000 dollars in the shop, you will receive a free lucky draw ticket/scratch card/spin the lucky wheel/get a random instant discount ranging from 5 to 20 dollars;

    (2) After clicking “like” , subscribing and following the shop’s account on social platforms such as Facebook, WeChat or Instagram, you can participate in the lucky draw for free.

    (3) After scanning the QR code of the shop, logging in to the relevant page and participating in the game, you can participate in the lucky draw online immediately and get the winning results right away.

    1.2 Administrative permit of the DICJ does not apply to raffle and lucky draw activities of non-commercial nature.

    • E.g.:

    (1) Lucky draws conducted at wedding parties or private parties

    (2) Lucky draws organized by companies for company staff at Christmas parties.

    (3) Lucky draws organized by charitable or non-profit organizations for fundraising purposes

   

2. Identification of lucky draw

    2.1 Lucky draw refers to the gaming activities of which the results are generated solely by “luck”. Generally speaking, it can be understood that winning results are drawn or generated in a "random" manner.

    • E.g.:

    Activities of which the results are randomly drawn or generated by using tools such as lottery balls, a lucky draw box, a lucky wheel, computer software or computer program, etc.

   

    2.2 Activities of which the winning results are selected or determined purely or mainly by relying on skills, techniques or according to preset criteria, etc., instead of solely by luck, are not regarded as lucky draw.

    • E.g.:

    (1) Use chopsticks, a claw or other tools to grip the prizes

    (2) Allot the prizes on a first-come-first-serve basis

    (3) Winners are selected through judging or selection in photography or singing competitions

   

3. Different forms of lucky draw, tools and prizes

    3.1 Any person organizes lucky draw, no matter what forms, tools, prizes or prize values are involved, as long as the lucky draw meets both the “commercial” and “random” criteria (above-mentioned item 1 and 2) should notify the DICJ in advance. It can only be conducted after obtaining permit.

    • Examples of different forms and tools of lucky draw:

    (1) Lucky draw tickets, lucky draw box, lucky wheel, scratch card (刮刮卡) or instant-win card (揭揭卡).

   

    (2) Using computer software or computer programs to conduct the lucky draw online, then:
- Announce the winning results offline at the shops
- Announce results on social platforms such as Facebook, WeChat or Instagram
- Real-time announcement of results through mobile interface

   

    3.2 When conducting any lucky draw activities, avoid using or displaying tools which are identical to those employed in casinos or gambling tools, which expressly signify or symbolize gambling, which possess any obscene or indecent contents, and/or which cause danger to the public.

    3.3 When applying an administrative permit, regardless of the prizes involved in the lucky draw, the value of the prizes, or whether there are purchase costs involved (such as those sponsored by a third party), the market value or cost value of the prizes must be declared.

4. Time required for application and approval

    4.1 Application should be submitted at least 10 days before the lucky draw activities are held (if there are promotion activities before the lucky draws, applications should be submitted 10 days before the promotion activities are held).

    • E.g.:

    Company A has the following promotion plan:
-- 1st of July: start advertising the promotion activity
-- 16th of July to 31st of August: Customers are given a lucky draw ticket for consumption amount of MOP100 or above. Customers are entitled to have a lucky draw opportunity by filling up the ticket and putting it into a specified box before deadline.
-- 1st of September: Draw 3 winners

    ** Company A should submit the application at least 10 days before the 1st of July (i.e. on or before the 21st of June)

    4.2 Once the application is accepted, it will be approved within 5 working days (from the date when all required documents for the application are completed) (performance pledge).

5. Remarks

    5.1 Organizers should conduct the relevant activities in the way in accordance with the methods and conditions applied for and approved by the DICJ. If special circumstances require to change or cancel application, it should be submitted before the relevant activity is launched (except if there is a reasonable explanation and approval from the DICJ is obtained).

    5.2 In accordance with relevant legal regulations, a representative of the DICJ should be present to supervise the lucky draw when it is conducted. Organizers should provide full cooperation and assistance.

    5.3 The authorization of the lucky draw activities does not indemnify the organizers from other legal responsibilities and obligations, such as the obligation of paying a stamp duty to the Financial Services Bureau which is calculated based on the total value of the prizes if there is any.

    5.4 Once the lucky draw is completed, organizers should submit the lucky draw results, the lists of winners and other information in an appropriate way to the DICJ as soon as possible.

    5.5 In addition to item 5.4 above, applicants for the sale of raffle tickets should also provide proof documents of the relevant activity such as financial information and cash flow information once the activity is completed.

    5.6 Organizers should comply with the relevant provisions of Decree No. 47/98/M.

6. Others

    6.1 In accordance with the provisions of Decree No.47/98/M, it is prohibited to conduct betting or any gambling and to provide any unauthorized services in places and locations where raffle, lucky draw or similar activities are conducted.

    6.2 The lucky draw or similar activities as per the application of permit should only be part of the applicant’s advertisement or promotion of products or business and should not be considered as the core of business or the main source of profit. Therefore, in general, the lucky draw or similar activities should not be conducted continuously for a long period of time and/or be conducted illegally, e.g. not in good faith or with the intention of circumventing the law.

    • E.g.:

    Organize a lucky draw activity for attracting consumers to buy products or services at an unreasonable price or at a price which is much higher than the general selling price in the market.

    6.3 Any person organizes or conducts raffle or lucky draw activities by charging a fee or for the purpose of profit-making may violate Law No. 20/2024 “law to combat illegal gambling crimes” and could be held liable for criminal responsibilities (except for those activities which are for the purpose of charity and authorized exceptionally by the DICJ).

    • E.g.:

    Participants have to make a payment of $1 for the lucky draw activities, e.g. “$1 winning” (一元奪寶), “$1 game” (一元遊戲), “$1 lucky draw”(一元抽獎) and/or “$1 Ichiban Kuji”(一番賞), etc.

    Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau

    October 2024

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