If your organisation, club or society is running a small lottery or prize draw in the area and you are selling tickets in advance, you need to obtain a small society lottery registration from us.
Definition of a lottery
A lottery is a game which involves:
- you paying to take part
- one or more prizes are allocated to one or more members
- prizes are allocated by a process which relies wholly on chance
Eligibility
Only societies established for specific reasons can register for lotteries. This includes:
- charitable purposes
- people to take part in (or support) sport or cultural activities
- any other non-commercial purpose other than those for private gain
Lotteries that only take place at an event, such as a fete, fundraising dinner or fair, are known as ‘incidental lotteries’ and do not need a registration.
A small society lottery must not have ticket sales worth:
- more than £20,000 for a single draw
- more than £250,000 in a calendar year
If you plan to exceed these limits, you will be classed as operating a large lottery. This must be licensed by the Gambling Commission.