Charitable Collections and Lotteries
Charitites and lotteries are licensed to make sure their activities
are legitimate and that all funds are accounted for. Such
activities include the control of street collections and
house-to-house collections.
Gambling Act 2005 - Lotteries
From the 1st September 2007 the Gambling Act 2005 comes into force
and replaces the Lotteries & Amusement Act 1976.
Societies, which fulfil the criteria outlined below and are
required under Schedule 1 of the 1976 Act to register with the
Licensing Authority, are designated as Small Society
Lotteries under the new Act:
· You are a non-commercial society*
· In neither the current calendar year, nor any past three calendar
years, the proceeds of any one lottery has been capable of
exceeding £20,000, and the aggregate proceeds of all lotteries
promoted by you has not exceeded £250,000.
· The lottery is promoted for the purposes of the society.
· At least 20% of the lottery proceeds are applied to the society
purposes.
· No prize is greater in value than £25,000.
· Tickets comply with certain conditions, including that they are
each of the same price.
(GAMBLING ACT 2005 SCHEDULE 11 PARTS 4 (30)-(38))
* A Society is defined as a non-commercial organisation established
and conducted:
· For charitable purposes,
· For the purpose of enabling participation in, or supporting of,
sport, athletics or cultural activity, or
· For any other non-commercial purpose other than that of private
gain.
(GAMBLING ACT 2005 s19)
Under the new Act only Small Society Lotteries are registered with
the Licensing Authority. If you believe that your Lottery
Registration falls outside the definition of a Small Society
Lottery, you should contact the Gambling Commission
who will be able to provide more information regarding the licences
required to run other types of lottery.
All current lottery registrations will continue to operate as usual
until 31st August 2007. At this time all current lottery
registrations will be converted automatically into a registration
under the new Act.
In accordance with the new Act, details of all lottery
registrations with the Licensing Authority will be passed to
the Gambling
Commission.
Small Society Lottery registrations will operate as the current
lottery registrations operate; Return Forms will be expected
quarterly as now and the annual fee and a Scheme Form will be
expected by 1st January for renewals.
From 1st January 2008 any valid Small Society lottery
registrations must be presented with a new Registration
Certificate under the Gambling Act 2005.
For further information, or to request an application pack for any
charitable collection, please contact the Licensing Service through
the online Licensing
Enquiry Form, by calling 01695 577177, or by email on
licensing.enquiries@westlancsdc.gov.uk.
Related information
> Gambling Act 2005
> Licensing Act 2003