Raffle-Off Your House? Not in OK says D.A.

By Chris Howell, NewsOn6.com

AFTON, OK -- Jim Poe retired to the shores of Grand Lake, but now he wants to move to Kansas City to be closer to family. But in a depressed housing market he knew he was taking a chance.

"We were thinking about selling the house, and then I had the idea..." said Jim.

The idea Jim had was bold, raffling off the house.

"Lottery tickets were $101. It was $1 shipping and handling," said Jim. "We called the Real Estate Commission to find out if there was anything illegal about it, they referred us to the Gaming Commission. They didn't know and they said we might contact the District Attorney's Office. D.A.'s office said that this was a grey area, they weren't really sure."

But after Jim sold 100 of the $101 tickets, the D.A.'s office told him his operation was illegal.

How does Jim feel about the experience?

"We were upset at first at the District Attorney's Office, but after reflecting on it he was just doing what he had to do," Jim said.