UK Gambling Commission clarifies lottery exemptions in Gambling Act Review
In a speech at the Lotteries Council Annual Conference on Wednesday, Gambling Commission Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Gardner (pictured above) paid tribute to the role society lotteries play in raising funds for good causes while outlining the Commission’s current regulatory priorities and future direction.
£461.5 million raised for good causes
Citing fresh data from the Commission’s Gambling Survey for Great Britain, Gardner noted that 20% of adults surveyed had only taken part in lottery draws in the past four weeks—a clear sign of the sector’s enduring popularity.
“This, we think, tells a clear story about the health of your sector,” she said, highlighting that society lottery proceeds had, for the first time in 2023–24, exceeded £1 billion—representing an 11.9% increase on the previous year. More notably, £461.5 million of that total went directly to good causes.
“That’s a huge amount of public good that can be delivered as a result of your work,” she affirmed, adding that “everyone in this room should be recognised for the part you play.”
Lotteries and the new Gambling Act rules
Gardner also delved into the details of the Gambling Act Review and the implications for the sector, particularly around customer-led tools and the transparency of customer fund protection.
She clarified that only high-frequency or instant-win lotteries would be subject to new requirements under RTS12, and that subscription lotteries remain exempt. “If your lottery provides these type of products, you need to make sure you are compliant by October,” she warned, encouraging operators to speak with Commission staff if they had questions.
On the issue of fund protection, a similar exemption applies: only society lotteries offering high-frequency or instant-win products will be required to inform consumers of the level of protection afforded to their funds. “Again, if you offer those products…ask us sooner rather than later,” she urged.
Gardner praised the “excellent Society Lotteries team at the Commission” and applauded the strong engagement from Lotteries Council members, citing their involvement in consultations such as the Gambling Act Review. One tangible outcome of this engagement, she explained, was the Commission’s decision to exclude the land-based and lottery sectors from new direct marketing rules: “Positive engagement leading to positive decisions.”
New statutory levy to fund harm prevention
Gardner also spoke about the newly introduced Statutory Levy, now officially in place, which is set to fund research, prevention, and treatment related to gambling harms. She described it as a “step change” in how the industry tackles harm, with the levy expected to generate around £100 million each year.
While acknowledging that the levy introduces challenges, she made clear its importance to the broader goal of protecting consumers.
Trust and collaboration
Gardner stressed that “none of us can take the current health of the sector and the public good that comes from it for granted.” She underlined the importance of public confidence in the rules that govern gambling, and the need for regulation to keep pace with a changing environment.
The speech reiterated the Commission’s commitment to a “collaborative relationship based on supporting compliance at the earliest opportunity.” Gardner emphasised that while the Commission has broad enforcement powers, “we can and do get far more done, far more quickly for consumers, when we work with others instead of relying on our powers alone.”
Turning to illegal gambling, she stressed the Commission’s firm stance on illegal lotteries. She revealed that between August 2024 and April 2025, 93 reports of potentially non-compliant free draws and prize competitions were sent to the Enforcement team. “You can be sure that when these investigations find illegal or non-compliant activity, we take action,” she assured.
