Local authority lotteries


 

Licensing authorities may run 'local authority lotteries' to raise funds to cover anything for which they have the power to incur expenditure.

What licences do licensing authorities need?

All local authority lotteries must be licensed by the Gambling Commission.  

How much can local authority lotteries raise?

  • Local authority lotteries must apply a minimum of 20% of the gross proceeds of each lottery for any purpose for which it has power to incur expenditure.
  • Up to a maximum of 80% of the gross proceeds of each lottery may be divided between prizes and the expenses of the lottery.
  • The maximum value of tickets that can be sold in a single lottery is £4 million.
  • The maximum aggregate value of lottery tickets that can be sold in any calendar year is £10 million.
  • The maximum prize in a single lottery is £25,000 or 10% of the proceeds (gross ticket sales), whichever is greater.
  • Rollovers are permitted provided the maximum single prize limit is not breached.

More information is available in our advice  Promoting society and local authority lotteries - November 2009.

External lottery managers

Licensing authorities may employ an external lottery manager (ELM) to run all or part of their lottery. ELMs must be licensed by us.

More information about working with an ELM is available in our advice Promoting society and local authority lotteries - November 2009.

What are lottery submissions?

Local authorities must submit information to us about each lottery they operate including:

  • total proceeds and how they have been distributed between prizes and expenses (including amount deducted for rollovers) 
  • amount applied directly to purposes for which the local authority has power to incur expenditure.

Detailed information about the responsibilities of lottery operators, including lottery submissions, can be found in the Licence conditions and codes of practice - consolidated December 2011.

When are lottery submissions due?

Lottery submissions must be received by us within three months of the date of the lottery draw. In the case of an 'instant' (scratchcard) lottery, this should be within three months of the last date on which tickets in the lottery were put on sale.

How do I make a lottery submission?

Lottery submissions should be completed through the online returns system.

To use this system you must first register your licensed lottery.

Guidance on how to complete your lottery submission is available through the online system.

A paper version ( Lottery submission - form - May 2008) and accompanying guidance ( Lottery submission - guidance notes - May 2008) is also available. If you complete the paper version, this should be posted to us at:

Lottery Submissions
Licensing Department
Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham
B2 4BP

Page last reviewed: July 2012

 

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