Report
Exploring online, illegal, individual-led lotteries and raffles
Exploring online, illegal, individual-led lotteries and raffles
Introduction
Over time, the Gambling Commission’s Intelligence department has seen a noticeable increase in reports relating to online individual-led lotteries and raffles promoted on TikTok. In particular, internal analysis indicates that reports about suspected illegal TikTok lotteries and raffles rose in 2025 compared with 2024. Intelligence-led reviews identified knowledge gaps, including the need to understand how and why participants engage with this type of gambling, and how and why individuals choose to facilitate or run social media lotteries and raffles. This research was commissioned to help address those gaps and to inform the Commission’s wider regulatory and intelligence approach in this area.
This research explored online individual-led lotteries and raffles promoted through social media, particularly TikTok, where payment is required to enter for a chance to win a prize. The study also included activity on Facebook and Instagram, reflecting findings from the internal analysis from the Gambling Commission’s Intelligence department, suggesting similar individual-led lottery and raffle activity takes place on these platforms.
In Great Britain, lotteries are a form of gambling and are only allowed in specific circumstances. The Gambling Act 2005 (opens in new tab) says that something is a lottery if:
- people pay to take part
- prizes are offered
- prizes are awarded solely on chance, or by a series of processes, and the first process is based solely on chance.
Lotteries can only be run either to raise money for good causes or for fun. They cannot be run for private or commercial gain. Some types of lotteries, such as large society lotteries and local authority lotteries require a licence from the Gambling Commission, whilst small society lotteries need a registration from their local authority. Other types of lotteries are exempt from licensing but still have rules which must be followed for them to be lawful.
Lotteries which are promoted online, including on social media and live-streaming platforms, need a society lottery licence from the Commission or a registration with a local authority. They can only be run to raise money for good causes, not for private or commercial gain. Where someone runs an online lottery or raffle without the necessary licence or registration, they are likely to be promoting an illegal lottery, even if they say the proceeds are for charity. The fundraising and lotteries on social media page provides further information.
Some draws are not regulated as gambling. These include free draws where there is a free to enter route and prize competitions where success depends on the exercise of skill, judgement or knowledge by participants and does not, as it does in a lottery, rely wholly on chance. Free draws and prize competitions can be run for commercial or private gain and do not need a licence or registration as long as they are being ran in a way that meets the requirements of the Gambling Act. However, if an activity described as a free draw or prize competition does not meet the legal requirements, it is likely to be an illegal lottery instead. The free draws and prize competitions page provides more information.
In this report, we use the term online individual-led lotteries and raffles as a practical label for draws on social media where people pay to take part for a chance to win a prize. The research was designed to explore activity which is likely to include illegal online lotteries and raffles. At the same time, we recognise that we cannot determine the exact legal status of every draw we observed.
This report focused on activity that appears to be illegal1 and is run by individuals, influencers or small businesses rather than licensed gambling companies. This research directly addresses key priorities outlined in the Gambling Commission's Evidence Roadmaps, contributing to the Illegal gambling and crime roadmap by collecting data on participation in, and levels of awareness of, online illegal gambling, with a particular focus on online illegal lotteries. Furthermore, by focusing on social media-led activities, it explores potential gateway products, aligning with the Emerging activities and risk to consumers’ roadmap.
To deliver on these objectives, the study used a 3 phase approach, with each stage contributing to a broader understanding of the online ecosystem, the scale of engagement and the lived reality of participation.
Overarching Study Objectives
This research sought to understand 3 core objectives:
- to understand where and how participants encounter online individual-led lotteries and raffles and what motivates them to participate
- to identify payment and participation mechanisms and assess awareness of the legality of these activities, including any legitimacy checks and reporting behaviours
- to explore whether individuals participating in or running online individual-led lotteries and raffles are aware that these activities may be illegal, and how behaviour may be adapted to avoid detection or account closure.
References
1 In the context of this report, 'illegal' refers to activities that meet the legal definition of a lottery or other regulated gambling but are operating without the necessary licence or registration from the Gambling Commission or a local authority required to operate lawfully in Great Britain.
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Last updated: 13 August 2026
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