Lottery ticket vending machines
Lottery ticket vending machines usually dispense a scratchcard or pull-tab lottery ticket following the insertion of the cost of the ticket into the machine.
The machines only dispense a pre-determined ticket - there must be no element of skill or game play required by the purchaser and the machine must not determine the outcome of the lottery or display the result within an interval of less than one hour if it is to avoid being classed as a gaming machine and subject to the requirements for gaming machines.
Manufacture or supply of lottery ticket vending machines
No specific permission is required to manufacture or supply lottery ticket vending machines but those who supply them can only supply the machine to a licensed or registered society lottery, External Lottery Manager (ELM) or the promoter of a private lottery.
The suppliers of such machines must be careful to ensure that the services they offer do not constitute ‘promoting a lottery’ (see Section 252 of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab). If the machine supplier is promoting a lottery they will need to be licensed by the Gambling Commission as an External Lottery Manager.
How lottery ticket vending machines can be used
Lottery ticket vending machines can only be used to dispense society lottery tickets (Gambling Commission licensed and local authority registered) and tickets in private lotteries such as private society lotteries in private members clubs.
Lottery ticket vending machines are subject to the same restrictions and requirements as any lottery, dependent of course, on what type of lottery is being promoted and therefore dispensed from the machine(s).
If a lottery ticket vending machine is dispensing a local authority registered society lottery, or a Gambling Commission licensed society lottery or a private lottery (for example, private society lottery), it will be the relevant regulatory requirements that apply and any restrictions those lotteries place on where and how tickets can be sold.
For Gambling Commission licensed society lotteries
Licensed society lotteries can sell tickets anywhere apart from on a street (for example, any bridge, road, lane, footway), which means they can be sold via lottery ticket vending machines.
If lottery ticket vending machines are being used to dispense and sell licensed society lottery tickets the society and external lottery manager (ELM) (if one is used) maintain overall responsibility for the lottery. They must ensure the lottery adheres to the Licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP) attached to the society or ELM licence which includes having the required age verification, self-exclusion, problem gambling and social responsibility policies and procedures in place as well as adherence to any other relevant regulations.
It is also the responsibility of the society or ELM to ensure that lottery ticket vending machines are sited in a place either with supervision or oversight so that only those 16 or over can play and the machines have adequate age signage.
Lottery tickets being dispensed must meet the relevant ticket requirements set out in the LCCP.
Societies licensed with the Commission must also take account of our guidance on providing information to lottery players when dispensing and selling lottery tickets. See our guidance Information to lottery players: proceeds and prizes for more information.
For local authority registered society lotteries
Local authority registered society lotteries can also sell lottery tickets via lottery ticket vending machines. If the lottery ticket vending machine is selling tickets on behalf of an LA registered society they must adhere to Schedule 11, Part 4 of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab).
If lottery ticket vending machines are being used to dispense local authority registered society lottery tickets the society maintains overall responsibility for the lottery which includes ensuring it adheres to all the relevant legislative requirements attached to an LA registered society lottery registration and any other relevant regulations.
It is also the responsibility of the society to ensure that lottery ticket vending machines are sited in a place either with supervision or oversight so that only those 16 or over can play and the machines have adequate age signage.
Lottery tickets being dispensed must meet the relevant ticket requirements set out in Schedule 11, Part 4 of the Gambling Act 2005.
Location of lottery ticket vending machines
Lottery ticket vending machines that are selling Gambling Commission licensed or local authority registered society lottery tickets can be sited in a number of places, such as:
Alcohol-licensed premises such as pubs can site lottery ticket vending machines but they must be sited on behalf of, or by, a licensed or registered society lottery and must adhere to the relevant sections of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab), LCCP and social responsibility measures (for example, age verification) as previously set out.
It is important to remember that the pub is acting as a retailer and the society remains responsible for the lottery. The society must ensure the publican has received the required age verification, self-exclusion, problem gambling and social responsibility training before siting the machines. It is also imperative that there are policies and procedures in place which have been agreed between the society and publican for cash handling and the reconciliation and banking of ticket sales.
Shops can also site lottery ticket vending machines but they must also be on behalf of, or by, a licensed or registered society lottery and again it must adhere to the relevant sections of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab), LCCP and social responsibility measures (for example, age verification).
The shop is acting as a retailer and the society remains responsible for the lottery. The society must ensure the retailer has received the required age verification, self-exclusion, problem gambling and social responsibility training before siting the machines. It is also imperative that there are policies and procedures in place which have been agreed between the society and retailer for cash handling and the reconciliation and banking of ticket sales.
Society lottery tickets can be sold on gambling licensed premises (in England and Wales and Scotland) via lottery ticket vending machines but again they must be sited on behalf of, or by, a licensed or registered society lottery and it must adhere to the relevant sections of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab), LCCP and social responsibility measures (for example, age verification).
Mandatory and default conditions for England and Wales (opens in a new tab) prohibit the sale of tickets in a private lottery or customer lottery on any gambling licensed premises. Conditions on gambling licensed premises in Scotland (opens in a new tab) allow for the sale of tickets in customer lotteries on any gambling licensed premises but not private lotteries.
The gambling licensed premises is acting as a retailer and the society remains responsible for the lottery. The society must ensure the premises owner and employees have received the required age verification, self-exclusion, problem gambling and social responsibility training before siting the machines. It is also imperative that there are policies and procedures in place which have been agreed between the society and premises for cash handling and the reconciliation and banking of ticket sales.
Other places lottery ticket vending machines can be used
Lottery ticket vending machines can also be used to dispense tickets in private lotteries such as private society lotteries.
Private members clubs
Lottery ticket vending machines can be sited and used in private members’ clubs in two ways.
Firstly the lottery ticket vending machine can be operated as a private society lottery and the lottery in question would need to adhere to Part 2 of Schedule 11 of the Gambling Act 2005. In this scenario the club would not need a licence from the Gambling Commission or the local authority to site the machine or operate the lottery, neither does the machine supplier need a licence. The ticket requirements for a private society lottery are set out at Part 2 of Schedule 11 of the Gambling Act 2005.
No age restrictions apply to this type of lottery.
Private societies are permitted to run private society lotteries to raise proceeds for the purposes for which the society is conducted, or to raise funds to support another charity or good cause.
The second way a lottery ticket vending machine can be operated in a private member’s club is by dispensing Gambling Commission licensed or local authority registered society lottery tickets. There are specific regulatory requirements which must be adhered to when selling society lottery tickets (see above).
In this scenario no specific permission is required to manufacture or supply lottery ticket vending machines but those who supply them can only supply the machine to a society lottery or External Lottery Manager (ELM).
Suppliers must be careful to ensure that the services they offer do not constitute ‘promoting a lottery’ (see section 252 of the Gambling Act 2005 (opens in a new tab). If the machine supplier is promoting a lottery they will need to be licensed by the Gambling Commission as an External Lottery Manager.
Files
Some files may not be accessible for users of assistive technology. If you
require a copy of the file in an accessible format contact us
with details of what you require.
It would help us to know what technology you use and the required format.
PDF Files Some PDF files cannot be displayed in a browser, you will see a message saying "Please wait...". If you see this message, you will need to download the file and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader (opens in a new tab).
Last updated: 8 June 2021
Show updates to this content
