UK Member of Parliament Wendy Chamberlain has submitted a Private Member's Bill to the UK Parliament aimed at abolishing the annual sales cap on charity lotteries, with the second reading scheduled for January 24, 2025.
Currently, the annual sales limit for charity lotteries is £50 million ($62 million), which Chamberlain believes restricts their ability to raise funds for charitable causes. Therefore, the proposed legislation aims to remove this cap, allowing charitable organizations to maximize their fundraising potential.
Charity lotteries, regulated by the 2005 Gambling Act and operating since the 1960s, provide unique, unrestricted funding for nonprofit organizations. Supporters argue that these restrictions are unnecessary and hinder the effectiveness of charitable organizations.
It is noteworthy that despite raising over £420 million annually for charitable organizations, charity lotteries are still the only gambling product subject to such sales restrictions.
The People's Postcode Lottery, a charity lottery fundraising organization, estimates that removing the cap could bring an additional £175 million to charities over the next five years without any additional burden on public finances.
Clara Govier, Managing Director of the People's Postcode Lottery, highlighted the increasing challenges these restrictions pose to charity fundraising, stating, "The sales restrictions on charity lotteries are increasingly making it difficult for charity lotteries to raise the vital funds needed to address the impact of the cost of living crisis.
"We welcome Wendy Chamberlain's introduction of this bill and urge all Members of Parliament to support it."
Supporters, including leaders of charities such as Magic Breakfast, Maggie's, and the Royal Voluntary Service, have also responded to the call, emphasizing that the current restrictions limit their ability to meet growing service demands.
The bill has garnered cross-party attention, with supporters urging the government to back the bill and simplify charity fundraising during economically challenging times.
