How to Run a 50/50 Draw for Your Football Club

A 50/50 draw is one of the simplest fundraising formats a sports club can run. Supporters buy entries into a draw. A winner is picked at random. The winner takes half the total pot, and the club keeps the other half. The bigger the pot, the better for everyone.

It's popular because it's genuinely exciting for supporters. A £200 pot split 50/50 means the winner walks away with £100 — a real prize that's worth talking about. And because it's tied to a specific event (a match day, a finals day, a presentation night), it has a natural deadline that drives urgency.

The maths

Here's what a 50/50 draw looks like at different entry levels (using a £2 entry fee):

• 50 entries at £2 = £100 total → £50 to winner, ~£47.50 to club
• 100 entries at £2 = £200 total → £100 to winner, ~£95 to club
• 200 entries at £2 = £400 total → £200 to winner, ~£190 to club
• 50 entries at £5 = £250 total → £125 to winner, ~£118.75 to club

Allowing multiple entries per supporter (1, 2, 3, 5, or 10) increases the pot without requiring more people. A smaller group with multiple entries each can still build a meaningful prize.

When to run a 50/50 draw

• Match days — a pre-match or half-time draw is classic and works well both in-person and online
• Cup finals and tournaments — higher attendance means more entries
• Presentation nights — supporters are already in a giving mood
• Pre-season — launch the season with a buzz-generating draw
• End of transfer window (for fan-operated clubs) — a fun hook tied to a moment of interest

Online vs in-person

Traditional 50/50 draws are done in-person with paper tickets and a drum. This is perfectly valid — but it requires a volunteer to manage it, you're limited to people physically present, and the cash handling creates admin.

An online 50/50 draw on Club Fundraiser removes all of that. Supporters enter on their phone, payment is handled by Stripe, the pot builds in real time (visible on the draw page), and when you're ready to run the draw, one click picks the winner and sends them an email. No volunteers, no cash, no spreadsheets.

Running it alongside your weekly lottery

A 50/50 draw is a one-off event — it doesn't replace your weekly lottery. Think of it as a boost. Your lottery provides steady weekly income; a 50/50 draw is a special event that generates excitement and a larger-than-usual fundraising moment.

You can run as many 50/50 draws as you like on Club Fundraiser. Some clubs do one per month. Others tie them to specific fixtures or events. You're in complete control of when each draw runs and when it closes.