Church Shuts Down House Raffle

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Nearly two years after it began, a raffle for a house in the Oak Park neighborhood has been canceled, and its organizers must offer refunds to ticket-holders.

An official of the state Office of Charitable Gaming tells The American Press (http://bit.ly/cseYHv ) that Shiloh Baptist Church began a raffle for a house valued at $246,000 in September 2011.

The original drawing date was extended twice before being called off.

Michael Legendre, director of the state Office of Charitable Gaming, said the organization has shut down the raffle and is "in the planning stage of offering refunds" to people who bought the $100 raffle tickets.

Pastor Barry Thomas said drawing dates had been extended because of low ticket sales.