Local Raffles in Houston, TX: Updated 2026 List for Local Winners

If you're looking for local raffles in Houston as of mid-2026, the honest answer is a mixed one: several of the year's most prominent charity raffles have already drawn their winners, while a handful of recurring and ongoing drawings remain in play. The VICTORY Houston Vehicle Raffle, one of the city's better-known charity car raffles, held its drawing on April 25, 2026 at the VICTORY Ball at 713 Music Hall, and the Lake Houston Area Rotary Corvette Raffle drew its winner at noon on June 20, 2026 at Robbins Chevrolet in Humble. What's still active or recurring includes the Houston Texans Foundation 50/50 raffle during home games, the Astros Golf Foundation 50/50 during the Texas Children's Houston Open, and the fall opening of a new St.

Jude Dream Home Giveaway cycle for Houston. One caveat worth stating up front: Texas does not require a raffle license, which means there is no single official registry of Houston raffles anywhere. Any list — this one included — is a snapshot assembled from individual organizations' announcements, not a complete government roster.

This article covers the notable Houston-area raffles of 2026, distinguishes the ones that have already concluded from those still open or recurring, and explains the Texas rules that determine who can legally run a raffle in the first place.

Which Local Raffles in Houston Are Still Open in 2026?

As of late July 2026, the clearest still-open entry with Houston relevance is the TEXAS YES Project's "Drive Away for Education" raffle, offering a new car with an entry window running May 24 through August 9, 2026. One important framing note: this is a statewide Texas raffle promoted heavily out of Austin rather than a Houston-specific event, so treat it as an option available to Houstonians rather than a hometown fundraiser. Details are at texasyesproject.org.

The recurring raffles are where Houston residents have the most reliable ongoing chances. The Houston Texans Foundation runs a 50/50 raffle at Texans home games, where the winning ticket holder receives 50 percent of total ticket proceeds, less expenses and required tax withholdings. Because it recurs each season, terms can change — check the current-season rules on the Texans' official site before buying.

Similarly, the Astros Golf Foundation runs a 50/50 raffle with daily drawings Thursday through Sunday during the Texas Children's Houston Open golf tournament, with each day's winner taking half of that day's ticket proceeds. Compare these two formats: a fixed-prize car raffle like TEXAS YES Project's tells you exactly what you might win, while a 50/50 raffle's jackpot grows with participation — a heavily attended Texans game can produce a substantial pot, but a slow sales day produces a modest one.

Houston Raffles That Already Drew Their 2026 Winners

Two of Houston's marquee 2026 raffles are now closed, and it's worth knowing their structure because both typically return in future cycles. The VICTORY Houston Vehicle Raffle 2026 sold tickets at $50 each or six for $250, capped at 2,500 tickets, from December 19, 2025 through April 25, 2026. The drawing took place April 25, 2026 at the VICTORY Ball at 713 Music Hall, 401 Franklin St.

The winner chose among six vehicles: a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox RS, Ford Bronco Sport, Harley-Davidson Street Glide, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry SE, or VW Tiguan. A 2,500-ticket cap is notable — those are far better odds than most large raffles offer, which is part of why tickets sell out. The Lake Houston Area Rotary Club's 2026 Corvette Raffle also concluded, with its drawing held at noon on June 20, 2026 at Robbins Chevrolet, 19301 Eastex Freeway in Humble.

Tickets were $100 each, and the prize package was a 2024 Corvette Stingray Coupe Z51 with under 5,000 miles, plus ten $250 Visa gift cards as secondary prizes. The limitation to understand: any "2026 list" you find online may still describe these as open. Always check the organization's own page for the current drawing date before buying a ticket, because a raffle page left up after its drawing can easily mislead a casual reader into thinking entry is still possible.

The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway in Houston

The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway is one of the larger recurring house raffles that includes a Houston market. In the most recent cycle, Houston tickets went on sale September 10, 2025 at $100 each, purchased through stjude.org or by phone at 800-303-4413.

That cycle featured early-bird prize deadlines layered on top of the house drawing itself: a CMA Awards package for tickets bought by September 17, an Astros/Rockets package by October 1, and a $10,000 Visa gift card by October 22. A new Houston cycle typically opens in the fall, so if you're reading this in mid-2026, the practical move is to watch the St. Jude Dream Home Houston page as autumn approaches rather than assuming dates carry over unchanged year to year.

Local coverage — FOX 26 Houston has reported on how to buy tickets in past cycles — usually follows the on-sale announcement. The early-bird structure is a genuine consideration: buying in the first week has historically entered you into additional prize drawings that later buyers miss.

Who Can Legally Run a Raffle in Texas — and Why That Matters to You

Texas raffles are governed by the Charitable Raffle Enabling Act, and the rules are stricter than many people assume. According to the Texas Attorney General's charitable raffles guidance, only four types of organizations may legally hold raffles in Texas: religious societies that have existed in Texas for at least 10 years, qualified volunteer fire departments, qualified volunteer EMS providers, and 501(c) nonprofits in existence at least 3 years. A neighborhood group, a for-profit business, or a brand-new nonprofit cannot legally sell you a raffle ticket in Texas.

The law also limits how these raffles operate. A qualified organization may hold only two raffles per calendar year. Prizes may not be money, and purchased prizes are capped at $75,000 in value — or $250,000 for a residential dwelling.

That's why you see car raffles where the vehicle was donated (donated prizes aren't subject to the purchase cap) and why 50/50 raffles like the Texans Foundation's operate under separate professional-sports-team charitable foundation provisions rather than the standard framework. Here's the tradeoff this creates for consumers: no state license is required to run a raffle, which keeps compliance simple for small charities, but it also means there's no licensing database you can check. The practical substitute is to verify the organization itself — confirm it's a real, established nonprofit before handing over money.

Warnings — Illegal Raffles and Unverifiable Claims

Because no license is required, an unauthorized raffle in Texas isn't merely unofficial — it's illegal gambling. Per the Texas State Law Library's guides on raffles, contests, and sweepstakes, conducting an unauthorized raffle is a Class A misdemeanor, and even participating in one is a Class C misdemeanor. That second part surprises people: buying a ticket in a raffle run by an unqualified organization can itself be a violation.

If a raffle is run by an entity that clearly isn't a long-standing nonprofit, church, volunteer fire department, or volunteer EMS provider, the safest choice is to pass. Be equally cautious about claims you can't verify. For example, the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ran March 2–22, 2026, and while large events like it often host raffles, there is no verifiable 2026 50/50 raffle winner announcement to point to — so don't rely on secondhand claims about rodeo raffle winners.

Similarly, the Houston Professional Fire Fighters conduct charitable fundraising, including calendar sales benefiting the Burned Children's Fund, but a 2026 raffle specifically could not be verified; check houstonsbravest.org directly rather than trusting a repost. A final limitation: raffle winnings are taxable income, and larger prizes come with withholding and reporting obligations. A car or house win can carry a five-figure tax bill, so factor that in before celebrating.

How 50/50 Raffles Work at Houston Sporting Events

The 50/50 format is the simplest recurring raffle Houstonians encounter: half the pot goes to the winner, half to the charity. At Texans home games, the Houston Texans Foundation's 50/50 pays the winning ticket holder 50 percent of total ticket proceeds, reduced by expenses and required tax withholdings — so the take-home is somewhat less than a straight half of the announced pot. During the Texas Children's Houston Open, the Astros Golf Foundation runs daily drawings Thursday through Sunday, meaning a golf fan attending all four days gets four separate chances at four separate pots, each benefiting the Astros Golf Foundation.

One practical example of how the daily structure matters: because each tournament day is its own drawing, a ticket bought Thursday is only good for Thursday's pot. If you want a shot at the typically larger weekend pots, you need to buy again on those days.

How to Verify a Houston Raffle Before You Buy

The verification routine takes about five minutes. First, confirm the organization qualifies under Texas law — a 501(c) nonprofit at least three years old, a religious society in Texas for ten-plus years, or a qualified volunteer fire department or EMS provider. Second, buy only from the organization's own website or in-person representatives; for example, VICTORY Houston sold its 2026 vehicle raffle tickets through victory-houston.org, and Lake Houston Area Rotary through lharotary.com.

Third, look for concrete details a legitimate raffle publishes: a fixed drawing date and location (the Rotary raffle specified noon, June 20, 2026, at Robbins Chevrolet, 19301 Eastex Freeway), a ticket price, and ideally a ticket cap. A raffle that won't say when or where the drawing happens, or who is running it, hasn't met the basic transparency that Texas's legal framework — and common sense — expects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to worry about whether a Houston raffle is legal?

Yes. Under the Texas Charitable Raffle Enabling Act, only qualified nonprofits, religious societies, volunteer fire departments, and volunteer EMS providers may hold raffles. Conducting an unauthorized raffle is a Class A misdemeanor, and participating in one is a Class C misdemeanor.

Is there an official list of all Houston raffles?

No. Texas requires no raffle license, so no government registry exists. You have to check individual organizations' announcements.

How many raffles can one Texas charity run per year?

Two per calendar year, with purchased prizes capped at $75,000 in value ($250,000 for a residential dwelling), and cash prizes prohibited.

Are the big Houston car raffles still open for 2026?

The VICTORY Houston Vehicle Raffle drew on April 25, 2026, and the Lake Houston Rotary Corvette Raffle drew on June 20, 2026 — both are closed. Watch those organizations' sites for future cycles.

When do St. Jude Dream Home tickets for Houston go on sale?

The most recent Houston cycle opened September 10, 2025 at $100 per ticket. A new cycle typically opens in the fall; check stjude.org near that time.

Do I pay taxes on raffle winnings?

Yes. Raffle prizes are taxable income, and 50/50 payouts like the Texans Foundation's are already reduced by required tax withholdings.