Cookies on the Gambling Commission website

The Gambling Commission website uses cookies to make the site work better for you. Some of these cookies are essential to how the site functions and others are optional. Optional cookies help us remember your settings, measure your use of the site and personalise how we communicate with you. Any data collected is anonymised and we do not set optional cookies unless you consent.

Set cookie preferences

You've accepted all cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Skip to main content

Meaning of society and local authority lotteries

Society lotteries

Society lotteries are lotteries promoted for the benefit of a non-commercial society. Such societies are organisations that have distinct aims and objectives and meet the definition of a non-commercial society set out in the Act.

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 non-commercial purpose other than that of private gain.

Local authority lotteries

Local authority lotteries are lotteries promoted by local authorities themselves. These differ from society lotteries registered with a licensing authority. Authorities may use the net proceeds of such lotteries for any purpose for which they have power to incur expenditure.

Previous page
Definition of a lottery
Next page
Large society and local authority lottery licensing requirements
Is this page useful?
Back to top