Website idea. Opinions please!

[ksigs]

Hi. This is my first post on YC, though I have been a regular visitor for a while now. While laying in bed last night I came up with a website idea that I wanted to run by you guys to get honest opinions.

The site would basically be an online 50-50 raffle. I came up with this because tons of people play the lottery but the odds are nearly impossible. A 50-50 raffle would be much more viable in winning. I also understand that the only way this would take off would be with amazing marketing to get the name out there.

Do you think people would visit the site? Is this a tangiable idea? Please let me know.

Kevin

[snowswap]

The only way I could ever see this working is if you gave a portion, or majority of your 50% to a charity or organization.

[bizdev]

The question is...is it legal?

Start researching that before you get carried away.

[myfayt]

Gambling is illegal in some places, need to check and be approved by local laws before starting it.

[my_misyel]

^What kind of raffle or ticketing system? And of course, we are talking about the legality and its coverage.

[ethansmith]

Others have already said it, but you may want to talk to an attorney or do some research on the legality of you idea.

Also, snowswap is speaking some good truth. Most people probably won't willingly hand you money and let you keep 50% off the top unless they know that the vast majority of it is going to support a charitable cause. You could take the social entrepreneurship road, and have the 50/50 fund a project which gets local children and teens involved in some kind of business entrepreneurship program.

Also, if a straight up 50/50 raffle was something that was completely legal/doable, chances are a company would be owning a corner of the market.

Verdict: Go social/charitable. Use the concept in your community to make a difference.