TheOwlBay
Weighted raffle picker
Weighted tickets like Alice x3 — draw winners fairly, no account
Run a raffle when tickets should not all be equal: write weighted tickets like Alice x3, then Pick a winner. Check Remove winner if that person should leave the pool. Reset restores tickets. Draws use crypto.getRandomValues in this browser. Entries stay in localStorage. This is not a draft order for every name and not a team split.
Why a raffle is not a draft order
A raffle answers who won this prize, possibly with extra tickets. A draft order assigns every manager a unique slot. A picker with equal names is the unweighted cousin. This raffle picker exists so a PTA, a stream, or an office can paste tickets, give Alice x3 if she bought three, and draw. Remove winner is for multiple prizes without drawing the same person twice until Reset. We do not process payments or print legal lottery tickets. Ads stay off. If you need unique slots for everyone, use draft order. If you need groups, use teams. If you need Secret Santa, that is a cycle, not a prize draw.
How to use the raffle picker
Weighted tickets like Alice x3. Remove winner after each draw.
Results use your browser's cryptographically secure random number generator. Lists and form data stay in localStorage on your device.
Examples
Alice x5, Bob x1 for a fundraiser with weighted tickets.
Remove winner after each draw for door prizes 1–3.
Common mistakes
Using the plain picker when ticket weights matter.
Forgetting to reset the paid/winner list between raffle rounds.
How weights are used
Each line becomes one or more tickets. Alice x3 is three tickets for Alice. Pick draws one ticket with crypto.getRandomValues, then, if Remove winner is on, all tickets for that name leave the pool. That is a fair weighted draw without replacement of that winner, not true random, not a state lottery, and not independent coin flips. Reset puts the original lines back. We do not store tickets on a TheOwlBay account. localStorage holds the textarea and checkbox on this device. Empty input is rejected. Ads stay off. Equal names without xN are simply one ticket each — same engine as a list picker, plus weights.
Who this raffle is for
PTA prize tables, stream giveaways, and office gift cards with extra tickets for volunteers will use weights more than a plain name picker. Remove winner is for a stack of prizes. It is not for seating, not for teams, and not for predicting a public lottery. Teachers can draw a prize without collecting email. TheOwlBay does not sell tickets or take a rake. If everyone must get a unique draft slot, use draft order. If you need a speaking queue, shuffle. No sign-up. Ads stay off.
FAQ
How do I write weighted tickets like Alice x3?
Put Alice x3 on a line. That name gets three tickets. A bare name gets one. Then press Pick.
What does Remove winner do?
After Pick, that person’s tickets leave the pool until Reset. Uncheck it if they should stay eligible.
Is this a legal lottery?
No. It is a classroom and party helper with crypto.getRandomValues, not a state lottery and not a forecast.
Raffle versus draft order?
Raffle picks one winner (then maybe another). Draft order gives every name a unique slot, with optional weights.
Where are tickets stored?
In localStorage on this device. Reset restores the pool. No TheOwlBay account.