Your House in the Colorado Rockies for the price of a Raffle Ticket!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Thank you for your interest in the Pikes Peak Rotary House Raffle. Below are answers to common questions that we receive. If you would like to suggest an addition to this page, feel free to contact us.
Q. Who can participate in the raffle?
Anyone who is 18 years of age or older and has read and agreed to the Official Raffle Rules as posted on this website.
Q. How many tickets have been sold?
Information on the number of raffle tickets sold is held confidential to the raffle committee. The number of tickets sold will be announced after the close of the event.
Q. Do I need to be present at any of the drawings to win?
No. You are welcome to attend the drawings and the locations and times are listed for you in the official rules page. We will notify all prize winners.
Q. This Raffle seems like gambling. Is it legal?
The Raffle is entirely legal. Colorado law permits charities to conduct raffles within specific rules and guidelines. This Raffle is registered with the Colorado Secretary of State under Colorado Raffle License Number 2010-01808.
Q. Is my Raffle ticket purchase tax-deductible?
Even though the raffle benefits various non-profit organizations, the law does not allow you to take a tax deduction for the cost of the raffle ticket.
Q. These FAQs seem easier to understand than the Raffle Rules, if there is a difference between what this FAQ page seems to say and the Official Raffle Rules, which wording takes precedence?
The Official Raffle Rules are the ruling document as you might expect. We offer this FAQ page to help people with the basic concepts of the raffle.
Q. Where can I see all the rules of the Raffle?
The rules are on this website, either click the link in the top Navigation Bar or click here to see the Raffle Rules.
Q. Is it safe to provide my credit card information over the Internet?
Yes. Our transaction system uses state of the art 128-bit SSL encryption to ensure that all your personal details and credit card information are not intercepted by unauthorized parties. This same technology is used by all major banks for their online banking services.
Q. How do I know when you run out of raffle tickets?
When all 26,000 tickets are sold, a notice will be posted on our website and further raffle ticket purchases will not be allowed. Hurry and get your tickets while they last!
Q. Is there a way to contact you through the telephone?
Due to heavy demand, the best method of contacting us is through the ‘Contact Us’ page on our website. Be assured that we take our customer service seriously and will personally respond to every inquiry received as soon as possible.
Q. After I purchase my raffle ticket or tickets will I receive my raffle ticket(s) in the mail?
Each purchaser will be sent a receipt via their provided e-mail address which will include the unique raffle ticket number(s). The original raffle ticket will be retained by the Raffle Sponsor. U.S. Postal regulations prohibit the mailing of raffle tickets.
Q. Can I buy more than one ticket?
Yes, please do! You may buy as many tickets as you like. Doing so increases your chances of winning not only the grand prize house but many of the other prize opportunities.
Q. How much money do the charities raise by raffling the house?
That depends on how many tickets we sell, but our goal is to raise up to $1 million.
Q. If I win, can I take the $1.3 Million Cash instead of the house?
Maybe. The rules state that the “Raffle Sponsor reserves the right to pay to the first prize winner the sum of $1.3 million dollars… the option to substitute a cash prize for the real estate prize may only be exercised by the Raffle Sponsor.”
Q. Can I give the ticket to a friend? Can it be a gift?
Yes. You may buy the ticket as a gift. You need only transfer ownership of the ticket by filling out the Ticket Transfer Form. Any ticket transfer requests must be submitted on or before June 16th, 2010 and can take up to 2 weeks to process.
Q. If I win, how long will it be before I receive my prize?
All cash and merchandise prizes will be awarded within 60 days of each drawing. The Grand Prize will be awarded within 60 days of the final drawing.
Q. Can my company or business buy tickets?
Yes, a business can purchase tickets.
Q. Can my company or business get credit and possibly win the referral prizes?
Yes, a business or organization can be the winner of any of the various referral drawings. If a business’ email address is the “referral email address” then the business gets entered into the referral pool. So a wise business would encourage their contacts to go to the raffle site, buy some tickets and use the business email address they give out as the referral email address thereby giving the business a better chance of winning a referral prize.
Q. If my name is drawn and I win a prize in an Early Drawing, do I have to buy another ticket to be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing?
No. If your name is chosen and you win any of the Early Bird prizes, your name goes back into the Raffle. You are still eligible to win all subsequent early drawing prizes as well as the Grand Prize – that’s why we say is is smarter to enter “early and often”.
Q. If I win the house, does it cost me anything to get it? What about taxes or insurance?
Yes. If you win the Grand Prize – the $1.3 Million Dollar House in the Colorado Rockies, you are required to pay all applicable state and federal taxes, closing costs and fees due to transfer title of the real estate to the winner. Please consult with your tax advisor. There are special rules involved if you are not able to pay these fees and taxes, please refer to the rules for details – especially rule number 12.
Q. If I win the house, is it reported to the state and the IRS? Do I have to claim it on my income taxes?
It is required by law for all prizes valued over $5,000 to be reported to the IRS. Please consult with your tax advisor.
Q. If I win other cash prizes, do you withhold taxes and report my winning to the state and IRS?
Yes. The law requires withholding of taxes on all prizes of $5,000 and above. Please consult with your tax advisor.
Q. If I buy a ticket and decide I don’t want to be in the drawing, can I get a refund?
Sorry, once payment has been received, all ticket sales are final.
Q. Can I buy my Raffle ticket with a credit card?
Yes. That is the only way you can buy a ticket. We accept Visa, Master Card, and Discover.
Q. Can I buy my Raffle ticket with a debit card or an ATM card?
Yes.
Q. When is the deadline for buying a ticket?
The last day you can purchase a ticket is Wednesday, June 30, 2010 (unless all tickets have been sold before that date). The actual drawings for the prizes occur Friday, July 9th, 2010.
Q. What are the odds of winning? How many tickets will be sold?
A maximum of 26,000 raffle tickets will be sold. So the worst possible odds you can have are 1 in 26,000 to win the house (Grand Prize). That is much better than any state lottery we know of! Plus there are many other drawings related to the raffle where you can win cash prizes. Once you buy your ticket(s) you are entered into all the appropriate drawings from that point on… the more you buy the better your chances. Good Luck!
Q. What happens if you don’t sell 18,000 tickets?
The rules state that if we sell fewer than 18,000 tickets, the Grand Prize (Real Estate Prize) will not be awarded but winners will receive prizes based on the prize schedule. For example if a total of 15,000 tickets are sold, in addition to any early drawing prizes awarded (which can total up to $60,000) there will be a total of $893,200 split between 7 winners, the top winner receiving a cash prize of $223,300.
Q. Can I see the names of prize winners?
Yes. Names of all prize winners will be posted on this website.
Q. When was the house built?
This custom built home was built in 1999.
Refer Your Friends, Win Extra Prizes
The More Friends You Tell, the More Chances You Have to WIN!
The Pikes Peak Rotary House Raffle offers you a chance to win up to $16,500 simply by referring your friends! Buy your raffle ticket, tell your friends and increase your chances to win!
Q. How do I refer my friends for the Referral Program?
First, tell your friends about the program (make sure they know your email address) and when they purchase a ticket tell them to list you as the “referring person” by using your name and email address when asked or when they complete an order form. Make sure they enter your email address correctly as that is a very important part of our Referral Tracking System.
Q. How does the Referral Program work?
When your friends purchase a ticket, they need to enter your email address into the blank that asks who referred them. You are then automatically entered into our Referral Program. For each friend you refer, who lists you as the referrer, who buys a ticket, you get entered into 2 different Referral Drawings. One enters your name into the pot for each friend that buys a ticket, the other keeps track of who referrers the most ticket purchasers and the top 3 referrers of ticket buyers get cash prizes. The more friends you refer, the more tickets they buy, the more chances you have of winning.
Q. What Prizes are offered through the Referral Rewards Program?
1. $13,000 Refer Your Friends Drawing
For every person you refer through our program who orders a ticket, you will receive one entry into the $13,000 Refer Your Friends Drawing. This random drawing occurs on the same day as the Grand Prize Drawing. There are three prizes awarded as follows:
- First Prize $10,000
- Second Prize $2,000
- Third Prize $1,000
As you can see, the more friends you refer you increase your chances to win the $10,000 prize.
2. $3,500 Refer The Most Ticket Purchases Drawing
When you refer your friends who order tickets, we keep track of how many friends you have referred and if they order a ticket. The individuals who refer the highest number of raffle entrants will share in the winnings of this special drawing as follows:
There are three prizes awarded as follows:
- First Prize (Referred the highest number of qualified ticket purchasers) $2,000
- Second Prize (Referred the second highest number of qualified ticket purchasers) $1,000
- Third Prize (Referred the third highest number of qualified ticket purchasers) $500
Again, as you can see, the more friends you refer you increase your chances to win part of this $3,500 prize.
Q. When are the Referral Drawings?
Both Referral Drawings occur the same day as the Grand Prize Drawing.
Q. Do I have to order a ticket to be eligible for Referral Rewards prizes?
No, but it would be nice if you did. After all, we are running a fundraiser (even though you also get a great chance of winning prize money and a house)! You simply tell your friends that when they purchase their ticket(s) to enter your name and email address as the “person” that referred them – we take it from there.
Q. Do I have to use your e-mail referral system?
At this point to simply tell your friends about the raffle, you can do that any way you want. But when they purchase a ticket(s) that is the key time for them to enter in your name and email info as the “person” that referred them to the Raffle. It is important that they enter in your email info when they purchase so we can properly credit the people that refer others first and also know that we have you properly entered into the various referral contests we are running.
Q. Is there a limit to how many people I can refer?
No. The more the better. It increases your chances of winning one of the referral awards and helps the charities involved by getting more people involved. It may even make the whole thing work out better so YOU can win the grand prize – the $1.3 Million Dollar House in Colorado Rocky Mountains!
