Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
General questions
What is Raffle for WooCommerce?
Raffle for WooCommerce is a free plugin that adds raffle/lottery functionality to your WooCommerce store. Customers can purchase raffle tickets, and you can draw winners randomly.
Is this plugin free?
Yes, Raffle for WooCommerce is 100% free with no premium version or paid add-ons.
Is it legal to run a raffle?
Laws vary by country/state. Generally:
- Charity raffles are often allowed with registration.
- Commercial raffles may be restricted.
- Sweepstakes (no purchase required) have different rules.
Does this work with WooCommerce Blocks?
Yes! The plugin fully supports both:
- Classic Checkout
- Block Checkout (WooCommerce Blocks)
Setup questions
How do I create a raffle?
- Go to Products → Add New
- Select "Raffle" from Product data dropdown
- Set price, dates, tickets limits
- Configure prize
- Publish
Why can't I see the Raffle product type?
- Ensure WooCommerce is active.
- Ensure Raffle for WooCommerce is active.
- Clear browser cache.
- Check for plugin conflicts.
How do I set up automatic winner selection?
- Edit your raffle product.
- Go to Raffle Settings tab.
- Check "Automatically select winners when raffle ends".
- Save product.
Ticket questions
When are tickets generated?
Tickets are generated based on the Generate Tickets On setting (WooCommerce → Settings → Raffle → General):
- Payment Complete: As soon as payment is received.
- Order Processing: When the order moves to "Processing".
- Order Completed: When you mark the order complete (default).
Can I manually create tickets?
No, tickets can only be created through purchases. This maintains integrity and audit trail.
What ticket number formats are available?
- Sequential: 0001, 0002, 0003...
- Random: A7X9B2, K3M8P1...
Can customers see their tickets?
Yes, in My Account → My Tickets. They can:
- View all their tickets.
- Filter by raffle or status.
- Download PDF tickets.
- See which tickets won.
Gift purchase questions
Can customers buy tickets as gifts?
Yes, if enabled on the raffle product. Customers can check the gift box on the product page or at checkout, then enter per-ticket recipient details.
Can one person buy gifts for multiple people?
Yes. At checkout, each ticket gets its own recipient fields. Click "+ Add another recipient" to add more; the cart quantity updates automatically. All recipients are processed in a single order.
Can a customer switch to gift at checkout?
Yes. Even if the customer didn't check the gift box on the product page, they can check it at checkout and add recipients. The per-customer limit is lifted for gift items.
Who wins if a gift ticket is selected?
The recipient wins, not the purchaser. The ticket is in the recipient's name.
Does the recipient need an account?
No, but having an account (with the same email) lets them:
- See tickets in My Account.
- Receive notifications.
- Track their entries.
Do per-customer limits apply to gift tickets?
No. Per-customer limits only apply to tickets the customer buys for themselves. Gift tickets are exempt because each goes to a different person.
Skill-testing question & free entry
What is the skill-testing question?
In some jurisdictions (notably Canada), paid raffles require a skill-testing question. When enabled, customers must answer a question correctly before they can add a ticket to cart.
How do I set up skill questions?
Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Raffle → Compliance, enable the feature, then add questions to the Question Pool. Each question can be text-based or multiple choice. See Compliance & Privacy for details.
Why do I only see one question at a time?
By design, a random question from the pool is shown on each page load. Refresh the page to see a different question.
What is the free entry route?
The free entry feature provides a "no purchase necessary" alternative by showing mail-in or other entry instructions in a separate tab on the product page. This is a legal requirement in some jurisdictions.
Can I set different questions per product?
Yes. Each product can override the global setting and use its own custom question instead of the global pool. Go to the product's Raffle Settings → Compliance section.
Shortcodes
What shortcodes are available?
Six shortcodes: [raffle_card], [raffle_cards], [raffle_countdown], [raffle_progress], [raffle_prize], and [raffle_status]. See Shortcodes for the full reference.
How do I show my current raffle on any page?
Use [raffle_card id="active"] to show the currently active raffle, or [raffle_cards status="active"] for a grid of all active raffles.
Can I display a countdown on my homepage?
Yes, use [raffle_countdown id="active" format="full"] for a detailed timer or format="compact" for a small badge.
Winner selection questions
How are winners selected?
Three methods available:
- Standard Random: WordPress random function.
- Cryptographically Secure: PHP's
random_int(). - Random.org: True random from atmospheric noise.
Can I trust the random selection?
Yes. All methods are properly random. For maximum transparency, use Random.org which provides independent verification.
What if I need to redraw?
In the Winner Selection metabox, you can "Clear & Redraw" to select new winners. The original selection is logged.
Can the same person win multiple times?
Not with the same ticket. If they bought multiple tickets, different tickets could theoretically win different positions.
Prize questions
What prize types are available?
- Custom: Any prize you describe manually.
- Product: Actual WooCommerce products from your store.
- Store Credit: Credit/coupon for your store.
How does product prize fulfillment work?
When a winner is selected with a Product prize:
- A $0 order is automatically created.
- Order is assigned to winner.
- You ship/fulfill like any order.
What if I don't have a store credit plugin?
The system automatically creates a coupon code instead. The coupon:
- Is for the prize value.
- Is one-time use.
- Expires in 1 year.
Technical questions
Is the plugin compatible with HPOS?
Yes, Raffle for WooCommerce is fully compatible with High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS).
Does it work with my theme?
The plugin uses standard WooCommerce templates and styling, so it works with most themes. Tested with:
- Storefront
- Astra
- GeneratePress
- Kadence
Where is data stored?
Custom database tables:
wp_rfwc_tickets- Ticket records.wp_rfwc_winners- Winner records.wp_rfwc_log- Audit log.
Is data deleted when I deactivate?
Deactivation: Data is preserved. Uninstall (delete): All data is removed.
Troubleshooting
Tickets not generating
- Check order status matches the Generate Tickets On setting (default: Completed).
- Check product type is "Raffle".
- Check for PHP errors in
debug.log. - Try completing or processing the order manually.
Emails not sending
- Check WooCommerce → Settings → Emails.
- Ensure email is enabled.
- Check spam folder.
- Test with WooCommerce test email.
Countdown not showing
- Clear cache (plugin, CDN, browser).
- Check raffle has end date set.
- Check theme compatibility.
- Check for JavaScript errors.
Winner not selected automatically
- Verify "Auto Draw" is enabled.
- Check WordPress cron is working.
- Ensure raffle has ended.
- Check for errors in
debug.log.
Support
Where can I get help?
- WordPress.org Support Forum: Community support and general questions.
- Themology Support: Bug reports, feature requests, and critical support.
- Plugin documentation: You're reading it!
How do I report a bug?
- Check FAQ and docs first.
- Search existing forum topics.
- Post on the WordPress.org forum or submit via Themology Support with:
Can I request features?
Yes! Post on the WordPress.org forum or submit via Themology Support. Popular requests are considered for future versions.