These are lotteries promoted for the benefit of a non-commercial society.
A society is non-commercial if it is established and conducted:
- for charitable purposes
- for the purpose of enabling participation in, or of supporting, sport, athletics or a cultural activity, or
- for any other non-commercial purpose other than that of private gain
A licence is needed from the Gambling Commission.
If the total proceeds (ticket sales) for a society lottery exceed £20,000 or if the proceeds of previous lotteries in the same calendar year have already reached or may, taking into account that lottery in question, reach £250,000 in one calendar year then the lottery is a large lottery and may only be run under a lottery operating licence issued by the Gambling Commission. Further information about obtaining such licences can be found on the Gambling Commission’s website