PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 State gaming officials are putting an end to an online Phoenix home raffle, saying it\u2019s an illegal gambling scheme.<\/p>\n
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) announced on Tuesday that it has issued a cease-and-desist order to a UK-based company called Raffall and a Valley man who are running the sweepstakes.<\/p>\n
John Smith said he is raffling off a $1.3 million mountainside home in north Phoenix with tickets starting at $10. If the minimum number of ticket sales is reached, the home would be awarded. If not, the winner gets 50% of the cash from the ticket sales.<\/p>\n
However, raffles can only be put on by charitable, tax-exempt organizations and personal profit is banned, officials said. The way this home sweepstakes is set up, Smith and Raffall look to profit from the other half of the ticket sales, so it\u2019s an illegal gambling operation, the ADG said.<\/p>\n
Only people 21 and over can gamble, and the ADG said the tickets are available to people under 21.<\/p>\n
Officials have told Raffall to remove all gambling-related drawings or giveaways targeting Arizonans and Smith has been told to stop promoting the raffle.<\/p>\n
Interestingly enough, Smith reached out to Arizona\u2019s Family nearly three weeks ago, promoting his raffle and his website, winthisazhome.com, which has since been shut down.<\/p>\n
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