Report
Exploring online, illegal, individual-led lotteries and raffles
Exploring online, illegal, individual-led lotteries and raffles
How to read this report
This report is structured around the main findings from each phase of the research: digital intelligence, quantitative and qualitative, and explains how each stage informed the next.
Unless otherwise stated, charts, tables and written analysis refer to the total sample.
The qualitative findings are illustrative rather than representative and are intended to provide depth and context to the wider patterns seen in the digital and quantitative phases.
Terminology used
Specific terminology is used within this report, the definitions and rationale behind which is as follows:
Individual-led lotteries and raffles
On social media, activities of this kind are often described by hosts using a range of labels, including raffle, lottery, competition, tombola and giveaway, not always accurately. In this report, the term draws and online individual-led lotteries and raffles are used as practical research labels to describe illegal paid-entry lotteries run by individuals, influencers or small businesses on social media, where payment is required to participate for a chance to win a prize and the process for allocating prizes relies wholly on chance. This does not include the National Lottery, society lotteries, or genuine free giveaways. It also does not seek to cover lawful prize competitions or free draws that provide a free entry route alongside paid entry (for example, some prize-draw-style promotions run by organisations such as Omaze).
However, because we did not assess each individual draw in detail, and participants typically described paying to enter rather than the full terms of entry, we cannot rule out that a small number of activities referenced in this research may have offered a free entry route and could therefore fall outside the legal definition of a lottery (for example, being a free draw or prize competition)2.
Participants and players
In this report, we use participants when referring to people who took part in the research directly, including those involved in the qualitative interviews and quantitative survey. Where findings relate specifically to the digital intelligence phase, we use players or online users to refer to individuals where their post indicates they have taken part in an online individual-led lottery or raffle. This distinction is used for clarity and applied consistently throughout the report.
Hosts
In this report, we use hosts when referring to individuals, influencers or small businesses who conduct these illegal paid-entry draws. We use this term consistently throughout the report, where findings relate to the digital intelligence phase and qualitative phase.
Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)
The PGSI is a screening tool used to measure problem gambling, defined as gambling to a degree that compromises, disrupts or damages family, personal or recreational pursuits. A PGSI score of 8 or more indicates that a person is likely to have experienced adverse consequences from gambling and may have lost control of their behaviour. A PGSI score of 3 to 7 indicates moderate-risk gambling. A PGSI score of 1 to 2 indicates low-risk gambling.
Know Your Customer (KYC) checks
Know Your Customer checks are used to verify a customer’s identity in order to ensure compliance, help prevent financial crime and protect both customers and businesses. They are used by regulated businesses, including banks and other financial institutions, and form part of wider legal obligations under anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations.
References
2 For statutory definitions of lotteries, prize competitions and free draws, see the Gambling Act 2005 and associated guidance.
Exploring online, illegal, individual-led lotteries and raffles – Introduction Next section
Exploring online, illegal, individual-led lotteries and raffles - Methodology
Last updated: 13 August 2026
Show updates to this content
No changes to show.