Advice requested on running a raffle

BillPorter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I expect to soon have fifteen names of AZ members to be entered in a raffle. I am thinking of numbering the names from 01 to 15 and then using the closing value of the Dow Jones average on December 1st and successive days to pick the winner. The first time the Dow Jones average ends in a number between 01 and 15, the AZ member with that number by their name wins the raffle. I really want to be sure I am using a fair and publicly viewable method to decide the raffle winner, so I am asking whether anyone sees a problem with the method outlined above. Thanks in advance for your thoughtful comments.
 
To truly randomize the process, I would randomize both steps.

1) Assigning a number to a name
2) Choosing a winning number

Your method for step two sounds arbitrary enough, although I know nothing about the stock market so maybe it commonly ends in a few digits. (Although I suspect that you do know this and if it did you wouldn't have chosen it)

For step one, choose something fun, simple and random. Take your list of names. Have someone grab you the balls out of ball return and roll them to you one at a time. Assign whatever number to the first person on your list and go down the list.

Viola! (Just for you Doug)

-J
 
Some people use the lottery numbers for a particular state they are living in, or the power ball or mega millions.
 
Nims said:
For step one, choose something fun, simple and random. Take your list of names. Have someone grab you the balls out of ball return and roll them to you one at a time. Assign whatever number to the first person on your list and go down the list.

Viola! (Just for you Doug)

-J

I like it! Thanks!
 
Make sure you define what it means when you say "the Dow ends with" Here are the October results, and if you use integers, you would have your first winner on October 11th. If you use the numbers to the right of the decimal, your first winner would be on October 3rd. Other than that, I like your system. It sounds fair (and fun).

10/2/2007 14047.31
10/3/2007 13968.05
10/4/2007 13974.31
10/5/2007 14066.01
10/8/2007 14043.73
10/9/2007 14164.53
10/10/2007 14078.69
10/11/2007 14015.12
10/12/2007 14093.08
10/15/2007 13984.8
10/16/2007 13912.94
10/17/2007 13892.54
10/18/2007 13888.96
10/19/2007 13522.02
10/22/2007 13566.97
10/23/2007 13676.23
10/24/2007 13675.25
10/25/2007 13671.92
10/26/2007 13806.7
10/29/2007 13870.26
10/30/2007 13792.47
10/31/2007 13930.01
 
Back
Top