Guidance
Lotteries and the Gambling Act 2005
Guidance on lotteries and the Gambling Act 2005 for local authorities
Contents
- Introduction
 - Definition of a lottery
 - Definition of ‘prize’
 - Definition of ‘society’
 - Application and Duration
 - Annual Fee
 - Refusal of application
 - Revocation of a small society’s registered status
 - Appeals
 - Cancellation
 - Lottery Tickets
 - Lottery Proceeds
 - Lottery Prizes
 - Administration and returns
 - Lottery register
 - Types of lottery that do not require a registration or licence (exempt lotteries)
 - When is a lottery not a lottery?
 - Common Problems
 
Appeals
You must inform the society of your decision to revoke their registration or refuse their application as soon as possible.
The society has a right of appeal to the Magistrates Court, which should be made within 21 days of the society being notified of the decision.
Previous sectionLotteries and the GA05: Revocation of a small society’s registered status Next section
Lotteries and the GA05: Cancellation
Last updated: 7 March 2025
Show updates to this content
Formatting changes only.