Card raffles - way of the future?

[parkplace33]

Not on net 54, but I am seeing more and more card raffles online. Example: card is worth $100. Seller will offer 10 players a chance at $10 each. Card is raffled to one player, they win the card. Rest win nothing. Seller gets $100. Basically, gambling for a card.

I guess this started a few year ago, but now seems to be more active than ever. Can this be a bigger thing in the future?

[hcv123]

Ultra Modern! Pay $$$ for a single pack - hope you get a chase card or you get nothing and the manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank!

[jingram058]

I guess I would be okay with it. Who knows, maybe get lucky every once in a while. It would be one way to get a card I most likely would not be able to get, if I got lucky.

[Casey2296]

I would definitely do a 1/10 raffle for high priced cards. Those odds are good, when they sell 100 tickets and pull one winner it's a waste of time and money.

[Rich Falvo]

I participated in many of these years ago, but not as much recently. It's a fun concept. Just make sure you participate in a group that has somebody other than the card owner do the randomization of the draw and it should be recorded and posted to the group.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Rich Falvo

I participated in many of these years ago, but not as much recently. It's a fun concept. Just make sure you participate in a group that has somebody other than the card owner do the randomization of the draw and it should be recorded and posted to the group.

Good point Rich,
Would be fun If the group of ten were your buddies or respected friends in the hobby so no matter who won you'd be happy for them.

[jfkheat]

A lot of states have laws restricting how raffles can be ran. In a couple states raffles are illegal.

[Johnny630]

What about a set break raffle ? I’ve been seeing these lately. Like say a 55 Topps $50 a spot each spot wins a card.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

What about a set break raffle ? I’ve been seeing these lately. Like say a 55 Topps $50 a spot each spot wins a card.

Exactly right, but I believe the correct term would be a "vintage break". Quite a while ago I had said I could see a possible market for people selling off their collections as they get older, using such a technique. Say you had collected a set, '39 Playball, and were ready to sell it off. Rather than going through the trouble of breaking up the set and selling the cards off individually, or at least selling off the star/HOF cards individually, you call for a vintage break of the set instead. Set the price per spot, and you can pretty much lock in what you'll make, while also selling off the entire set all in one transaction. Selling the entire set piece by piece can entail a lot of time, effort, and potential loss if you go the auction route, and the market doesn't step up for what you have.

And since everyone with a spot gets a card from the set, there is no true "gambling" aspect involved where someone could end up getting nothing, which can land you in legal trouble in some states.

[Rich Klein]

For modern cards they are called "Razzes" which is the same thing as being discussed.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

For modern cards they are called "Razzes" which is the same thing as being discussed.

Hmmmmm. Had not heard that term used before, thanks.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

What about a set break raffle ? I’ve been seeing these lately. Like say a 55 Topps $50 a spot each spot wins a card.

Burl's Sports. Check them out.

[Kutcher55]

It is gambling, plain and simple, without skill involved. And that’s if the razz isn’t crooked.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Kutcher55

It is gambling, plain and simple, without skill involved. And that’s if the razz isn’t crooked.

Gambling for cards seems to always happen at the start of a downtrend in the middle and ugly graded for the grade card starts to happen. Quality cards are never raffled or Razzed it’s the middle/lower graded ugly in grade examples that people have a hard time selling at comparable comps. That’s it.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Kutcher55

It is gambling, plain and simple, without skill involved. And that’s if the razz isn’t crooked.

Technically it isn't gambling because everyone gets something for the price of their spot. At least that is how some of the states with rules against unregulated online gambling look at it. You technically are buying a set/group of cards more or less as part of a buyer's group, and then divvying up the cards among everyone in the buyer's group in accordance with a pre-determined distribution plan.

Seems it is how the Breakers are able to skirt any state anti-gambling rules/laws.

[Leon]

A lot of people have fun with these. Never been my gig.
Hard to say if they will gain more popularity.

[ZachS]

Been a thing for a long time now... and it really blew up during covid.