It’s thanks to brilliant supporters like you that we can help Guy’s and St Thomas’ do some amazing things. Discover how to organise a successful raffle or lottery to raise funds for Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, including some important laws and restrictions to keep in mind.
When collecting on private premises, such as a pub or home, you’ll need permission from the property owner. No special permits or permissions are needed for collections in private premises, but you still need to think about other things like cash handling, Gift Aid and the use of personal data.
When holding a collection on public property or in the street, you must get a licence from the local council. Information on how to do this is usually on the local authority’s website.
Raffles and lotteries are a more heavily regulated area of fundraising because they’re a form of gambling. There’s no legal difference between a raffle and a lottery. For more information, visit the Gambling Commission website.
You can hold a raffle, permission-free, if it takes place on the same premises where a non-commercial event is taking place. For example, if you’re holding a fundraising dinner that includes a raffle. These are known as “incidental lotteries”. Please make sure you follow the Gambling Commission’s guidance on incidental lotteries if you’d like to run one.
Lotteries and raffles promoted to the public require a licence from the local authority or Gambling Commission, depending on their size. Details are available on the Fundraising Regulator website. If you’re running a lottery or raffle that is only open to members of your workplace, society or within your dwelling, you may not need a licence – please carefully check the Gambling Commission’s guidance on the types of lotteries you can run without a licence.
If you’re collecting prizes for raffles of a considerable size or contacting large companies, please get in touch to tell us which companies you plan to approach and ask us for an authorisation to fundraise letter.
Please make sure that when you advertise your raffle or lottery, you make it clear that it is “in aid” of Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity and that you are responsible for running it.
Social Responsibility Requirements when holding a Raffle or Lottery
To protect children and vulnerable people, and ensure overall fundraising transparency and responsible gambling, you must:
- Provide a warning to potential customers that underage gambling is an offence.
- Ask customers to affirm that they are of legal age when purchasing tickets.
- Set an upper limit on the value of raffle or lottery tickets which may be sold to a person, whether as part of a single transaction or over a period.
- Make participants aware what percentage of their ticket cost is donated directly to the charity throughout the promotion.
- Make terms and conditions for entry available throughout the full duration of the promotion.
