Gambling sectors

Society lotteries

Society lotteries (also known as raffles) are promoted for the benefit of a non-commercial society. A society is non-commercial if it is established and conducted:

  • for charitable purposes
  • for the purpose of enabling participation in, or of supporting, sport, athletics or a cultural activity
  • for any other purpose other than that of private gain.

A large society lottery:

  • has proceeds that exceed £20,000 for a single draw
  • has aggregate proceeds from lotteries in excess of £250,000 in any one year.

A small society lottery:

  • does not have proceeds that exceed £20,000 for a single draw
  • does not have aggregate proceeds from lotteries in excess of £250,000 in any one year.

More information is available in the Gambling Commission's introductory leaflet Running a lottery - November 2009, and in our detailed advice.

Page last reviewed: January 2012