What are the differences between raffles and lotteries?

The first important difference between a raffle and a lottery is that the former is often held to raise money for a specific cause, such as a charity. Unlike lotteries where you have to hit the right combination of numbers chosen at random, raffles are only held from numbers corresponding to the tickets sold. So, while participating in a lottery, there is no guarantee that anyone will win the top prize, called the jackpot. However, at raffles, there is always someone who will win the jackpot. Also, raffles are held on a pre-determined date whereas lotteries can start at any time and run for an almost infinite period of time until someone hits the jackpot.