Sweepstakes review
RMHC San Diego Giving Back Raffle review: $150 tickets, California only, no free entry
California-only registered charity raffle: $150 tickets, 70,000 cap, Del Mar house (ARV $7M) or cash; no free entry.
Our verdict
A registered California charity raffle with a $7M house top prize and a 1 in 18 overall odds statement, but tickets cost $150 and there is no free entry.
Best for: California adults happy to treat a $150 ticket as a gift to RMHC with a chance at a large prize.
- Odds & value 25%5
- Transparency 20%8
- Player protection 20%8
- Ease of play 15%6
- Payouts & claims 10%6
- Reputation 10%8
What we like
- California AG registration R-4009 stated
- House ARV $7,000,000 and prize values published
- Overall odds statement (1 in 18)
- Independent auditor supervises the Grand Prize drawing
What to watch
- California residents only
- No free entry; $150 per ticket
- House only if at least 60,000 of 70,000 tickets sell
- Rules contain date inconsistencies
At a glance
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Available in
- CA
- Fees
- Raffle tickets $150 single, $400 for 3, $550 for 5; add-on tickets $20 single, $50 for 3, $100 for 10 (minimum add-on order $170). No free entry: all entries require payment.
- Mobile app
- —
- Courier apps allowed
- —
Score breakdown
Rubric & weights- Odds & value 25% weight5/10
Stated overall odds of 1 in 18 for some prize, but a $150 ticket with no free entry and the house only if 60,000 tickets sell.
- Transparency 20% weight8/10
Rules publish ARV/MSRP for the house and top prizes, ticket cap of 70,000, odds statement, dates and notification process; a few date inconsistencies noted.
- Player protection 20% weight8/10
Registered with the California AG (R-4009), 18+ rule, independent auditor supervision and clear tax non-deductibility statement.
- Ease of play 15% weight6/10
Buy online but only from inside California; minimum add-on order is $170.
- Payouts & claims 10% weight6/10
W-2G for $600+ and tax responsibility are stated; cash and annuity alternatives are offered; claim deadlines vary by prize.
- Reputation 10% weight8/10
Run by a 501(c)(3) with a state registration number; no regulatory action found in the research.
Games, prices and published odds
Top prizes and odds
| Game | Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Giving Back Raffle | 1st: Grand Prize | Del Mar house, ARV $7,000,000 (or $5M annuity / $4M lump sum) | Depends on tickets sold (max 70,000) |
| 2nd | 2026 Toyota GR Supra (MSRP $60,650), cruise (ARV $60,380) or $50,000 cash | — | |
| 3rd | 2026 MINI Cooper C (MSRP $29,500), trip (ARV $27,698) or $25,000 cash | — |
Top three prize tiers as printed on the operator's prize chart.
Odds are the operator's published figures per single play. Prize amounts are before tax.
Who it’s for
This raffle suited California adults happy to treat a $150 ticket as a gift to Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego with a chance at a large prize. It is not for anyone outside California, or anyone who wants a free way in. See sweepstakes vs lottery vs raffle and the California state page.
Status
Tickets were sold to 26 June 2026 11:59pm PT, with the Grand Prize drawing on 17 July 2026. Ticket sales have ended.
How it works
RMHC of San Diego is a 501(c)(3), registered with the California Attorney General as Raffle Registration Number R-4009 under Penal Code 320.5 for 2026. Buyers must be 18 or older and in California at purchase, through sdraffle.com. Raffle tickets cost $150 single, $400 for 3 and $550 for 5. Add-on tickets are also sold, with a $170 minimum add-on order.
The grand prize is a Del Mar house (ARV $7,000,000), or a $5,000,000 20-year annuity or $4,000,000 lump sum, if at least 60,000 tickets are sold; otherwise it is $1,000,000 cash. The maximum is 70,000 tickets. Second and third prizes include a 2026 Toyota GR Supra, or $50,000 cash, and a 2026 MINI Cooper C, or $25,000 cash.
No free entry
All entries require payment.
How it scored
Player protection, transparency and reputation are the strongest at 8: state registration, an independent auditor supervising the drawing, and published ARV and MSRP figures, the cap and dates. Odds and value is the weakest at 5. The rules give overall odds of 1 in 18, which vary with tickets sold, but the top prize depends on 60,000 tickets selling. Ease of play and payouts and claims scored 6.
Claims and tax
The rules say raffle payments are not gifts and not deductible. A W-2G may be required for prizes of $600 or more, and the charity takes no responsibility for the winner’s tax liabilities. Claim deadlines vary by prize. See lottery taxes explained.
Our take
Well disclosed and properly registered, but expensive per ticket. The rules contain a few date inconsistencies, which we note but do not resolve.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Giving Back Raffle (Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego) legit?
- Giving Back Raffle (Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego) is operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego, Inc.. Run by RMHC of San Diego, a 501(c)(3), and registered with the California Attorney General as Raffle Registration Number R-4009 under Penal Code 320.5 for 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2026 (registration does not imply endorsement). Buyers must be 18+ and in California at purchase. Tickets sold to 26 June 2026 11:59pm PT; Grand Prize drawing 17 July 2026. We rate it 6.7/10 (Good) on odds, transparency, player protection, ease of play, payouts and reputation, verified November 2, 2026.
- How much does Giving Back Raffle (Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego) cost?
- From $150 to $650. Raffle tickets $150 single, $400 for 3, $550 for 5; add-on tickets $20 single, $50 for 3, $100 for 10 (minimum add-on order $170). No free entry: all entries require payment.
- What are the odds of winning at Giving Back Raffle (Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego)?
- 2026 Giving Back Raffle: top prize Del Mar, CA house (ARV $7,000,000) or $5,000,000 20-year annuity or $4,000,000 lump sum if at least 60,000 tickets sold; otherwise $1,000,000 cash at Depends on tickets sold (maximum 70,000); any prize 1 in 18 (rules: overall odds vary with tickets sold). These are the operator's published figures per single play.
- How old do you have to be to play Giving Back Raffle (Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego)?
- The minimum age is 18.
- What are the downsides of Giving Back Raffle (Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego)?
- California residents only. No free entry; $150 per ticket. House only if at least 60,000 of 70,000 tickets sell. Rules contain date inconsistencies.
Sources
Facts last verified November 2, 2026
Every figure on this page comes from one of the documents below. If a source has changed since our check, tell us.
- RMHC San Diego Giving Back Raffle official rules · accessed November 2, 2026
- RMHC San Diego raffle overview · accessed November 2, 2026
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