Small society lottery registrations

Small society lotteries are lotteries promoted for the benefit of a non-commercial society.

To be non-commercial a society must be established and conducted:

for charitable purposes
to enable participation in or supporting sport, athletics or a cultural activity
for any other non-commercial purpose other than that of private gain

We can provide a licence if:

ticket sales totalling £20,000 and under are put on sale
the society's aggregate proceeds from lotteries do not exceed £250,000 a year

A lottery larger than this must be run under a lottery operating licence issued by the Gambling Commission.

Before you apply

Before you apply, read the relevant sections of our Statement of Licensing Principals

How to apply

Notes for applicants

Your application will be refused if in the period of five years ending with the date of the application:

an operating licence held by the society has been revoked under section 119(1) of the Gambling Act 2005
an application for an operating licence made by the society has been refused

The application may be refused if the local authority think that:

the society is not a non-commercial society
a person who will or may be connected with the promotion of the lottery has been convicted of a relevant offence
information provided in or with the application is false or misleading

A return statement must also be submitted no later than 3 months beginning on the day on which the draw (or last draw) in the lottery took place. It must be signed by two members of the society appointed in writing for that purpose by the society, or its governing body if applicable. All signatories must be over 18.

If you would like to: