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
Introduction
The Gambling Act 2005 (opens in new tab) provides that promoting or facilitating a lottery is illegal, unless it falls into one of two categories of permitted lottery, namely:
- licensed lotteries – large society lotteries and lotteries run for the benefit of local authorities that are regulated by the Commission under an Operating Licence
- exempt lotteries – there are four types of exempt lottery that are expressly permitted under Schedule 11 of the Act, including the small society lottery. These are discussed later in this guidance.
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Lotteries and the GA05: Definition of a lottery
Last updated: 11 October 2021
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