Gambling Act 2005

Part 2 Private Lotteries

The exemption

9 (1) A lottery is exempt if—

(a) it is a private society lottery, a work lottery or a residents' lottery within the meaning of paragraphs 10 to 12, and

(b) the other conditions specified in this Part are satisfied.

(2) In this Part a reference to a private lottery is a reference to a private society lottery, a work lottery or a residents' lottery.

Private society lottery

10 (1) A lottery is a private society lottery if—

(a) it is promoted only by authorised members of a society, and

(b) each person to whom a ticket is sold is either a member of the society or on premises wholly or mainly used for the administration of the society or the conduct of its affairs (“society premises”).

(2) In this Part “society” means any group or society established and conducted for purposes not connected with gambling.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1)(a) “authorised” means authorised in writing by the society or, if it has one, its governing body.

(4) In relation to a society which has branches or sections, the reference to a society in sub-paragraph (1)(a) is a reference to a single branch or section.

Work lottery

11 (1) A lottery is a work lottery if—

(a) the promoters work on a single set of premises (“the work premises”), and

(b) each person to whom a ticket is sold or supplied also works on the work premises.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph a person works on premises if he—

(a) is employed under a contract of employment to work at or from the premises,

(b) undertakes to work at or from the premises (whether or not for remuneration), or

(c) conducts a business at or from the premises.

Residents' lottery

12 (1) A lottery is a residents' lottery if—

(a) the promoters live in a single set of premises (“the residential premises”), and

(b) each person to whom a ticket is sold or supplied also lives in the residential premises.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph a person lives in premises if he habitually resides in any part of the premises (whether or not there are other premises in which he also habitually resides).

Purpose of lottery

13 (1) A private society lottery may be promoted for any of the purposes for which the society is conducted.

(2) A work lottery or residents' lottery must be organised in such a way as to ensure that no profits are made.

Advertising

14 (1) No advertisement for a private society lottery may be—

(a) displayed or distributed except on the society premises, or

(b) sent to any other premises.

(2) No advertisement for a work lottery may be—

(a) displayed or distributed except on the work premises, or

(b) sent to any other premises.

(3) No advertisement for a residents' lottery may be—

(a) displayed or distributed except on the residential premises, or

(b) sent to any other premises.

Lottery tickets

15 Each ticket in a private lottery must be a document (without prejudice to section 253).

16 (1) A ticket in a private lottery may be sold or supplied only by or on behalf of the promoters.

(2) The rights conferred by the sale or supply of a ticket in a private lottery shall not be transferable (and any purported transfer shall be treated by the promoters of the lottery as being ineffective).

17 Each ticket in a private lottery—

(a) must state the name and an address of each of the promoters of the lottery,

(b) must specify the class of persons to whom the promoters are willing to sell or supply tickets, and

(c) must explain the condition in paragraph 16(2).

Price

18 The price payable for each ticket in a private lottery—

(a) must be the same,

(b) must be shown on the ticket, and

(c) must be paid to the promoters of the lottery before any person is given the ticket or any right in respect of membership of the class among whom prizes are to be allocated.

No rollover

19 The arrangements for a private lottery must not include a rollover.