Lotteries

Introduction
Lotteries are a form of gambling and as such those wishing to run them are required to ensure that children and other vulnerable people are not exploited by their lottery. Generally, the minimum age for participation in a lottery is 16 years of age, except for certain exempt lotteries such as incidental non-commercial lotteries, private, work and residents' lotteries.

What is a lottery?
A lottery is defined as an arrangement where people pay to participate for the chance of winning a prize, and will be defined as either simple or complex.

A simple lottery is where:

• persons are required to pay to participate;

• one or more prizes are allocated to the participants;

• prizes are allocated wholly by chance.

A complex lottery is where:

• persons are required to pay to participate;

• one or more prizes are allocated to the participants;

• the prizes are allocated by a series of processes; and

• the first of these processes relies wholly on chance.
  

The Gambling Commission has issued a code of practice for lotteries which can be obtained from the Gambling Commission's web site (see links to the right).

Types of Lottery
In general, lotteries may only be run in support of good causes, such as charity fundraising and cannot be run for private or commercial gain.

Large Society Lotteries - (proceeds exceeding £20,000 per lottery or £250,000 in a calendar year) - the organisation running them must obtain an operating licence from the Gambling Commission. The city council has no involvement in licensing these lotteries.

Small Society Lotteries - (proceeds less than £20,000 per lottery or £250,000 in a calendar year) - the organisation running them must be registered with city council. There is no need for a Gambling Commission operating licence.

Exempt lotteries - these do not require to be run under an operating licence or registration, but may not be run for private gain and must be run in accordance with the law:

• Incidental non-commercial lotteries - held at non-commercial events, where all money raised at the event goes entirely to purposes that are not for private or commercial gain;

• Private society, work or residents' lotteries - where tickets can only be sold to society members, workers in or residents of a premises;

• Customer lotteries - run by occupiers of business premises selling tickets only to customers on the premises itself.

Please note that in the case of work, residents' or customer lotteries no profit may be made for any purpose, including worthy causes.

If you are not sure whether your lottery falls into one of these categories, please read the relevant document on the Gambling Commission web site.

Free draws and prize competitions
Free draws and prize competitions are free from statutory control under the Gambling Act 2005.

Generally, prize competitions are those in which success depends on the exercise of skill, judgement or knowledge by the participants and does not rely on chance, although some prediction schemes where success can be influenced by the use of skill or judgement may amount to betting.

A free draw is one where there is no cost of entry for the participant.

Old Lottery Registrations
Registrations under the previous regime (the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976) were converted automatically into a registration under the Gambling Act 2005.

Fees for Small Society Lottery Registrations
The first annual fee of £20 under the new Act was due by no later than 1st January 2008. Annual fees are due within the two months prior to the anniversary of the registration. For registrations first issued under the previous regime before 1st September 2007, the annual fee is due between the start of November and the end of December each year.

National Lottery
The city council has no involvement in the regulation of the National Lottery, which is overseen by the Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport through the National Lottery Commission - see the links on this page

Further information
Notes for guidance, registration application forms, return and scheme forms are available via the links on this page, including a guidance note from the Gambling Commission.

Contact information

Telephone: 023 8083 3245

Email: licensing@southampton.gov.uk

Fax: 023 8083 4061

Postal address:
Licensing Team
Southampton City Council
PO Box 1344
Southampton
SO15 1WQ

Document Exchange: DX 115710 Southampton 17

Personal callers:
Licensing Team
Southbrook Rise
4-8 Millbrook Road East
Southampton
SO15 1YG

Opening hours:
Members of the licensing team will normally be available at Southbrook Rise to assist personal callers on weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00 and between 14:00 and 16:00. We may be available at other times by prior appointment.

Please note that the addresses and numbers given above should only be used for communication with the licensing team.

Service of Documents
Please use the PO Box or Document Exchange addresses for the service of all applications and notices on the licensing authority; please do not send or deliver such communications to the Civic Centre, as your application, notice or representation will inevitably be delayed, which may cause difficulties or result in your representation not being considered or your application failing to meet the strict prescribed time limits.

We are not able to accept service of applications, notices etc by fax or e-mail. Please note that all applications must be accompanied by the appropriate fee and bear original signatures.