What Is a Society Lottery?
This is an independent, informational guide for UK readers and is not affiliated with the organisations mentioned. It is provided for general information only.
A society lottery is a lottery run to raise money for a good cause — a charity, sports club or similar — rather than for private profit, and by law at least 20% of the money raised must go to that cause. They are separate from the National Lottery and have smaller prizes.
Lotteries run for good causes
A society lottery is a lottery run to raise money for a non-commercial cause — a charity, sports club or similar — rather than for private profit. By law, at least 20% of the money raised must go to that cause.
They are entirely separate from the National Lottery, though both are forms of regulated lottery.
How they are licensed
Large society lotteries need a Gambling Commission licence, while small ones simply register with their local council. Small lotteries are capped at a £25,000 top prize and £250,000 of ticket sales a year.
Large society lotteries can sell up to £50m of tickets a year, with a maximum single prize of £500,000.
Well-known examples
The People's Postcode Lottery and the Health Lottery are the best-known large society lotteries, each an umbrella raising money for a range of good causes.
Many charities — from air ambulances to cancer charities — also run their own society lotteries.
How they differ from prize competitions
A society lottery is a licensed or registered lottery, unlike a prize competition, which avoids lottery rules through skill or free entry.
Both raise money and award prizes, but they sit in different parts of the law.
Society lotteries fill a useful middle ground between the National Lottery and informal raffles: regulated and run for good causes, but smaller and more local in feel. If you play one, it is worth remembering that the headline appeal is supporting the cause, since the prizes are far smaller than the National Lottery's.
What is the difference from the National Lottery?
A society lottery raises money for a specific cause and has smaller prizes; the National Lottery is a single national game with much bigger jackpots.
How much of a society lottery goes to good causes?
At least 20% of the money raised must go to the cause, by law; many give more.
Are society lotteries regulated?
Yes — large ones are licensed by the Gambling Commission, and small ones are registered with the local council.
Is a society lottery the same as a prize competition?
No — a society lottery is a regulated lottery, while a prize competition uses skill or free entry to stay outside lottery rules.
Related guides: Is the Health Lottery legit?, How the lottery works, Lottery odds explained
18+ only. Gambling should be fun, not a way to make money. If you are worried about your gambling, or affected by someone else's, free and confidential help is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, from BeGambleAware.org, and through the self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP. You must be 18 or over to gamble.