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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think more house raffles would be a good thing for poorer people?

33 replies

MaskAndMartini · 10/10/2025 14:56

I read a story today in the paper about this family who are selling raffle tickets for their house. They are 2 quid each and the winner wins the house. Presumably the sellers also get at least what the house is worth.

AIBU to think this is a great idea? Especially for people who have no chance of ever getting on the housing ladder.

OP posts:
DinoLil · 10/10/2025 15:07

This has been a thing for decades. Omaze is just another version of it.

Just think about how many tickets would have to be sold to get the value of the house. Different for Omaze with a massive marketing budget.

LillyPJ · 10/10/2025 15:04

It's a terrible idea! It encourages people to gamble who are least able to afford to do so. On the surface, it looks like you could win a house by spending £10 or so, which is why desperate people can be tempted. In reality, you're more likely to lose hundreds or thousands in return for nothing.

Seawolves · 10/10/2025 15:01

Why is the house being raffled in the first place? It's one thing being able to afford a £2 ticket but can the winners afford the running costs and the maintenance?

ReplacementBusService · 10/10/2025 14:59

Bit of usually false hope? Not really. I feel like the best thing would be if it was possible to afford to buy a house by working hard.

ComtesseDeSpair · 10/10/2025 14:59

It’s just like any other form of lottery. Low chance of winning, a pipe dream for all but one entrant. And the rules around it are complicated, because it’s gambling. There needs to be a charitable beneficiary, or a license from the Gambling Commission, neither of which most sellers who aren’t charities will want to be bothered with.

Snorlaxo · 10/10/2025 14:58

Gambling isn’t a good thing. Participating in something like this could easily turn into an addiction where people buy tickets that they can’t really afford.

ItsOnlyHobnobs · 10/10/2025 14:58

I’ve heard too many times that these raffles ‘don’t raise the required funds’ and they pull the plug on giving the house away.

MidnightPatrol · 10/10/2025 14:56

Spending money while not getting anything in return for it…?