Fundraising, raffles and lotteries
Fundraising, raffles, and lotteries are all forms of gambling and you must follow the rules for the type of lottery you plan to run, otherwise you may be breaking the law.
You can run a lottery or raffle to raise money for charity. Before you start, check if your fundraising activities would be classed as a lottery.
You must have a registration or licence to run a lottery online or by telephone
Online lotteries include:
- lotteries on social media
- auction or selling sites
- fundraising platforms
- live streaming platforms
- allowing people to buy tickets by telephone or text message.
Online lotteries and fundraisers are increasing in popularity and many people want to use them to raise money.
Before starting an online lottery, be aware that you will need a Gambling Commission licence in order to run it legally. You may want to consider other types of fundraising if you don’t want to apply for a Gambling Commission licence.
Find out more about legal requirements for lotteries on social media.
Before you organise your fundraiser
Before you begin organising your fundraiser, read our guides which will help you to run a safe and legal lottery.
Find out more about:
- fundraising with lotteries at events
- fundraising with bingo, casino and poker nights
- fundraising with 100, 200 and 500 clubs
- types of lottery you can run without a licence.
Fundraising and lotteries on social media
Last updated: 21 November 2023
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