Did you just finish binge-watching “Landman” and start thinking, “Hm, I should really get in on this oil thing” — no? Just me?
Regardless of your Billy Bob Thornton oil-baron dreams, one lucky person could win 100 acres worth of mineral rights in South Texas — for less than the price of a six-pack of Thornton’s character’s beloved Michelob Ultras.
The Wittman family has accumulated land and mineral interests across Texas for multiple generations. Instead of a traditional sale, they’re raffling off the rights to a 100-acre plot in Frio County for less than $5 a ticket. And there’s a significant alternative: a $1 million cash prize.
Here’s how it works: Tickets cost roughly $4.10 (priced at £3.00 each through the British-based site Raffall). The more tickets purchased, the better the odds, with bundled options available – three tickets get three bonus tickets, and 15 tickets get 45 more.
The winner will have the opportunity to purchase the mineral acres for $1, with the Wittmans covering title, escrow, and closing costs. Alternatively, they can opt for the $1 million cash prize.
However, there’s a catch. The sweepstakes requires at least 500,000 entries for the prize to be awarded. If fewer than 500,000 entries are received, a winner will receive a cash alternative calculated based on the total amount earned by the sweepstakes. More details, including raffle limitations and rules, can be found on the raffle site.
What are mineral rights in Texas?
The sweepstakes page explains that mineral rights give ownership of what lies below the ground, including oil and natural gas. If energy companies lease these minerals and drill wells, the mineral owner may earn money through royalty payments and lease bonuses – without paying drilling or operating costs. The prize includes only mineral rights, not the land, buildings, or surface property.
According to Investopedia, mineral rights cover underground resources like fossil fuels, metals and ores, and mineable rocks. Owning these rights allows for resource extraction to be sold or used.
The Wittmans state the rights in the raffle have been in their family for over a century and are located over the Pearsall Shale formation in South Texas, an area known for oil and gas drilling.
“While future drilling is never guaranteed, owning mineral rights in an active region means you’re positioned to benefit if development occurs now or in the future,” the sweepstakes page reads. “The offered acreage is currently leased by a major oil company with a 22.5% royalty and is adjacent to active drilling by the same company.”
Is the giveaway legal?
The Raffall platform classifies the giveaway as a sweepstakes, not a raffle.
When purchasing entries, users are informed they are receiving entries as a bonus with a purchase of Raffall Tokens, which allow access to arcade games on the platform. This ensures compliance with US sweepstakes laws.
MySanAntonio.com reported that at least two other Texas families have used the UK-based platform for similar sweepstakes, also classified as sweepstakes and not subject to the Texas Charitable Raffle Enabling Act, which governs raffles. A sweepstakes is defined as a promotional tool that awards prizes based on chance or random selection.
