Quote Originally Posted by martymayes View Post
In the old raffle, one could enter simply by filling out a card. No donation was required. While there may have been 871,000 entries, doubtful a $1 donation accompanied each ticket.
The EAA plays the no donation required gambit for two reasons: one it avoids them running afoul of rules in states where a raffle (even to benefit a non-profit, i.e., void where prohibited by law). Second, it allows them to claim that any donations that accompany the raffle tickets are tax deductible. If it were a normal raffle, the fact that you have a chance of winning something, negates it being a donation and you can not deduct it.