Register a small lottery

Use this guide to register a small lottery and find information on the other types of lottery.

How to register a small lottery

Charities, clubs and non-commercial organisations wishing to run small lotteries to raise funds for their activities, will need to register with the local authority for the area in which the principal offices of the society are situated.

Small lotteries can be used to raise up to £250,000 per calendar year, with a limit on the proceeds from each individual lottery of £20,000.

Download and complete

Apply for small society lottery registration (PDF, 322KB)

The initial registration fee is £40, with an annual fee of £20 payable in each subsequent year that the registration is in force.

Restrictions on small lotteries

To be classified as a 'small' lottery, each draw must meet the following requirements:

  • The proceeds from a single lottery must not exceed £20,000.
  • The aggregate proceeds from lotteries promoted in a calendar year must not exceed £250,000.
  • At least 20% of the proceeds of every lottery must be used for a purpose for which the promoting society has established and conducted.

Prizes

The maximum value of any prize allowed in a small society lottery is £25,000. This limit applies to both cash prizes and the value of any goods or services offered as a prize.

Unclaimed prizes can be given, or 'rolled over', to future lotteries run by the same society, providing that the prize limit is not breached.

Tickets

Every ticket sold in a lottery must be the same price, and the buyer must be given a document that identifies:

  • the promoting society
  • the price of the ticket
  • the name and address of the person responsible for the lottery
  • the draw date(s).

Lottery tickets may only be sold by people over the age of 16, to those over the age of 16.

Filing of records

After promoting a lottery, the registered society must return details of that lottery to the local authority within three months of the date of the draw (or last draw). The details required include:

  • details of the arrangements for the lottery, including the date(s) on which tickets were sold, the dates of any draw(s) and the arrangements for prizes (including any to be rolled over)
  • the proceeds of the lottery
  • the amounts deducted in respect of the provision of prizes
  • the amounts deducted in respect of other costs incurred in organising the lottery
  • any amount applied to a purpose for which the promoting society has conducted
  • details of any expenses that were paid for other than by deduction from the proceeds.

To return these details, please use the use the lottery returns form:

Every completed return must be signed by two directors, trustees or members who have been nominated by the society. A written document confirming this nomination (for example, minutes from an AGM) should be supplied with the return.

Public register

The council maintains a public register, listing all of the societies registered for the promotion of small society lotteries. This register, together with the details of any completed lotteries in the last 18 months, can be viewed at our offices.

Viewing is by appointment only during office hours, so please contact us first to book a date and time.