Small society lottery licence

If your organisation, club or society is running a small lottery or prize draw in the area and you are selling tickets in advance, you need to obtain a small society lottery registration from us.

You do not need a lottery registration if you plan to sell raffle tickets and hold a prize draw on the day of your event.

Before you apply

You need to read and understand the requirements on this page before you submit an application for a registration. We cannot proceed with your application unless you give us all the information we need.

Lotteries must be run in support of good causes such as charities, not for private or commercial gain.

This registration is for small organisations or clubs, such as sports clubs or a PTA holding a Christmas raffle. This does not apply to national lotteries or draws, or to lotteries which sell tickets to the general public.

Conditions

A small society lottery must meet the following conditions:

• the total value of tickets for sale in each lottery must not exceed £20,000
• the total value of tickets for sale in each year must not exceed £250,000
• the maximum prize for each lottery must not exceed £25,000
• at least 20% of the proceeds of each lottery must be applied to a purpose for which the society is conducted
• no person connected with the promotion of the lottery can have been convicted of a relevant offence under the Gambling Act 2005

You cannot sell lottery tickets to members of the general public on a street or in a public space.

Fees

Application fee - £40

Annual fee - £20

A lottery registration is granted for the duration of your society or club, on payment of both the application and subsequent annual fee, invoiced to the promoter.  If you fail to pay the annual fee, your licence will be revoked. 

Lottery returns form

You must also complete and send a return form to us that details the proceeds of each lottery. You must do this within 3 months of the draw. A return form will be emailed to you once the lottery licence is issued.

The application process

Apply for a small lotteries licence

Once we receive your application, we will contact the Gambling Commission to advise them of your registration.

There is no consultation process for this application.

Change of promoter

If the promoter of the society changes after registration email this completed form to the team.