Running a Raffle

You can sell raffle tickets as packages in any AES app, then use the MU Ticket Generator report to create paper tickets or draw winners electronically. The report lists each buyer once for every ticket they bought, so set up each package with the right number of tickets.

This article covers:

Setting up raffle ticket packages
Ways to sell raffle tickets
Running the MU Ticket Generator report
Printing tickets or drawing a winner

Setting up raffle ticket packages

Create one package for each ticket bundle you sell. For example, if you sell single tickets and a three-ticket bundle, create two packages.

In Auction Conductor, go to Packages and add a new package.
Set Type to Multi-Unit.
Enter the number of tickets included in the package to the Qty. per Package field. A single ticket should be 1, and a three-ticket bundle should be 3 here.
In Multi-Unit Price, enter the price of the whole package, such as the price of the three-ticket bundle.
Fill in the other required fields, such as Package Name, Category and Value. If you don't have a category yet, create one in Setup > Categories first. See How to Enter Auction Packages for details on each field.
To limit sales, enter a Quantity Available. Otherwise, check Unlimited.
Save the package.

Ticket counts matter. The MU Ticket Generator report counts tickets correctly only when each raffle package is a Multi-Unit package with the right Qty. per Package. Also keep in mind that Quantity Available limits how many packages sell, not how many total tickets.

Collect payment at the time of sale. Check Instant Pay on the package to require buyers to pay on the spot or have a credit card on file to complete the purchase. See Multi-Unit Instant Pay.

Ways to sell raffle tickets

You can sell the same raffle packages in several places. Each article below explains the steps.

Event microsite: Multi-Unit packages can be sold on your event microsite. See Event Ticketing/Microsites.
Check-in: In Event Manager, staff can add tickets for a guest with Sell Add-Ons at Check-In. Check Featured on your raffle packages so they appear there by default. Featured packages can also appear at the top of the mobile bidding app when they're published. See Staffed Check-In for Households.
Kiosk tablets: Set up a tablet to show your raffle packages on its home screen. See Setting up Kiosk for Multi-Unit Sales. If a buyer doesn't know their bidder number, staff can find them by name with Bidder Lookup Mode.
Quick Entry: Event Manager administrators can record many sales quickly by entering a bidder number and quantity. See Quick Entry.
Checkout: Staff can sell more tickets to a guest during checkout. See Selling a Multi-Unit Package at Checkout.

Running the MU Ticket Generator report

The MU Ticket Generator report is a CSV file that lists the buyer once for each ticket they bought. For example, a guest who bought one three-ticket bundle appears on three rows. Run the report after raffle sales close so every ticket is included.

In Auction Conductor, go to Reporting > Event Day Materials.
Select MU Ticket Generator.
Open the CSV file in a spreadsheet program.

Printing tickets or drawing a winner

You can use the report to generate paper tickets for printing, via 3rd party tools such as Microsoft Word Mail Merge, or skip paper tickets and draw winners electronically.

Printing paper tickets

Use the CSV file as the data source for a mail merge in your word processor. Each row prints as one ticket.

Drawing a winner electronically

Pick a random row in the spreadsheet. Because each row is one ticket, a guest who bought more tickets has more chances to win.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a separate package for each bundle? Yes. Each package has one price and one ticket count, so create a package for each bundle you offer.
Why are some tickets missing or miscounted on the report? Check that each raffle package's Type is Multi-Unit and that its ticket count is correct. The report depends on both. If you find a mistake with the Qty. per Package field, you can fix it in the package then simply re-run the report.
Can I change a package's type after tickets are sold? Avoid it. Changing the type of a package that already has sales can cause those purchases to be orphaned, and Auction Conductor warns you before you do.
Can I send a message to everyone who bought raffle tickets? Yes. In the Messaging Center, add the MU Package Number condition to a message to send it to buyers of a specific package. See Messaging Center.