Small Society Lotteries (Fundraising)
Society lotteries are lotteries promoted for the benefit of a non-commercial society.
A society is non-commercial if it is established and conducted for charitable purposes, enables participation in, or supporting of, sport, athletics and cultural activities and for any other non-commercial purpose other than that of private gain.
The total value of tickets for sale for single lottery cannot exceed £20,000. The annual value of tickets for all lotteries per calendar year must not exceed £250,000. If you wish to fundraise within these limits you must register as a small society with the local council in the area where your principal office is located. If you plan to exceed either of these values, you must be licensed with the Gambling Commission.
Please apply to us for registration if your society is located within the areas of Corby, East Northamptonshire , Kettering and Wellingborough.
Participation in a lottery is a form of gambling, and as such your council will seek assurance from your society’s terms and conditions and/or constitution that your lotteries will be conducted in a socially responsible manner. For example:
- who appoints and manages any sub-contractors
- the banking arrangements for handling the proceeds of the lottery
- who sells the tickets and pays the prizes
- who controls promotional aspects of the lottery.
- effective procedures to minimise the risk of lottery tickets being sold to underage customers
- how any assets (money or property) shall be distributed on dissolution
Once registered you will be required to pay an annual fee to maintain your registration. Details of all current fees are available from our fees and charges booklet: Fees and charges
Further information on fundraising and promotions is available on the Gambling Commission’s website: Fundraising and promotions
If you are organising a small society lottery it is your responsibility to ensure you are compliant with the law. If in doubt, you should seek legal advice.