Lottery registration licensing

Section 5 of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 - as amended by the National Lottery Act 1993 - authorises the conduct of small lotteries - e.g. a sweepstake or draw - by societies for raising money for charitable, sports and other similar purposes, and not for private gain.

The society on whose behalf the lottery is promoted must first be registered for the purposes of Section 5 with the appropriate authority, and the lottery must be conducted in compliance with the Act. This extends to any society which is established and conducted either:  

1. Wholly for purposes other than purposes of any commercial undertaking or

2. Wholly or mainly for the purpose of participation in or support of athletic sports or athletic games

Registration of a society lottery

A society lottery is a lottery promoted by, or on behalf of a society - e.g. any club, institution, organisation, association or firm - which is established and conducted wholly or mainly for one or more of the following purposes:  

1. Charitable purposes

2. Participation in or support of athletic sports or games or cultural activities

3. Purposes other than described above but are not purposes of private gain nor purposes of any other commercial undertaking

For further information please contact our Licensing Team on 0118 974 6402.