Calcutta (sweepstake plus auction)
Tickets are drawn against runners (horses, golfers, teams); each runner is then auctioned and the pool is shared by the official placings.
Typically raises
$1,500
$300–5,000 per eventest.
About $167 per organiser hour
Based on one calcutta night
Is it right for us?
- Money
- $500–2,000
- Work
- A few evenings
- Helpers
- 1–2 people
- Lead time
- 2–3 weeks
- Red tape
- Some
Uncommon: known in racing and golf circles, a novelty elsewhere
- People
- 1 organiser, 1 auctioneer, 1 recorder/cashier
- Organiser time
- 6-12 [Estimate]
- Lead time
- 2-4 weeks
- Up-front cost
- Low; prizes come from the pool.
- Risk
- Low: prizes come from the pool.
How it works
The money, as an example sum
Nothing to pay up front, and the typical result for one calcutta night is about $1,500 per event.
From the typical figure on this page. Your result will differ.
Where the money figure comes from
[Estimate] The club's share comes from the half of auction money not returned to owners; it depends heavily on the crowd.
Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.
Step by step
- Advertise the event name, date and draw details publicly.
- Sell sweepstake tickets in person; state the pool split.
- Draw runners to tickets ('owners').
- Run the auction; each owner sells (receiving half) or buys back at half.
- Collect payment immediately.
- Pay prizes on the official placings; record everything.
Getting the word out
Even a well-run plan fails if nobody hears about it. There are two asks, and the first one goes out first.
- Ask for help
- Someone to take entries, and a business to give the prize.
- Ask people to buy
- People to enter.
- When to start
- Ask for helpers first, as soon as the date is set. Start the public ask about 3–4 weeks out, and book newsletter and paper notices before that: small newsletters close early.
Where to put it
- Asking people yourselfMost yeses come from someone asking directly. Give every member a short message they can send to family and workmates.
- PostersPosters at the school gate, the clubrooms and shop windows, with the date, place, price and how to pay.
- School, club and church newslettersYour own newsletter is free and read by the families most likely to say yes. Check when it closes.
- Email lists and group chatsYour members’ email list and the class, team or church group chats. Short, with one date or one link.
The full guide to getting the word out: every channel from flyers to the evening news, with lead times and costs.
What you’ll need
- Place
- NeededYour own grounds or hall
- Landowner’s permission
- Not needed
- Council permit
- Not needed
- Food rules
- Not neededNo food sold
- Alcohol
- CheckUse a licensed venue and confirm its licence covers your event. A club licence usually covers members and guests only
- Gambling rules
- NeededClass 2: prizes up to $5,000 and all tickets printed worth up to $25,000. Run by a club or society, with the money going to community or charitable purposes. Prizes at least 20% of ticket value; sold in person only, every ticket numbered (our rule: on paper). Prizes over $5,000 need a Class 3 licence
DIA calcutta rules: the pool split is stated before sale, only sweepstake ticket holders bid, and buyers pay immediately. Prizes over $5,000 need a Class 3 licence.
Make more from it
Auction a few donated items on the same night
$300-2,000 (estimate)
the auctioneer and bidding crowd are already there
Raffle during the race or game
$200-700 (estimate)
people wait for the result
Stack it: on its own, about $1,500. With the 2 priced add-ons above, roughly
$3,100est.
What you can get donated
Auctioneer's time; venue.
Tips
- A good auctioneer drives the result.
Watch out for
- Not stating the pool split in advance.
- Letting non-ticket-holders bid.
Calcutta (sweepstake plus auction): checklist
0 of 13 done
Before
On the day
After
DIA calcutta rules: the pool split is stated before sale, only sweepstake ticket holders bid, and buyers pay immediately. Prizes over $5,000 need a Class 3 licence.
Also pairs with: club function, golf tournament, race-day event
Sources
* General fundraising information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Money figures are examples and estimates, not promises. Check current official requirements before you commit. About this guide