Society Lotteries

Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985

Do I need to Apply for a Registration of a Society?

Under the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, it is unlawful for any society (such as a club, organisation or association) to promote a public lottery unless that society is registered with the district council where its head office is located.

Private lotteries and small lotteries run as part of another event do not need registration. However, they must follow the specific rules set out in the Order.

Eligibility Criteria

A society must apply to the district council where its office or head office is located. A copy of the application must also be sent to the District Commander of the relevant police district.

Applications must:

• State the purposes for which the society is set up and operated.
• Include any extra information the Council may reasonably ask for.
• Give the full address of the society’s office or head office.
• Include a copy of the society’s lottery scheme (how the lottery will be run).

Private lottery rules allow for small workplace sweepstakes and small fundraising ballots. Tickets or chances cannot be sold to the general public.

Application Evaluation Process

To register with the council, a society must:

• Apply to the council for registration, specifying the purposes for which the society is established and conducted.

• Provide any other details which the council may require
• Specify the address of its office or head office.
• Attach a copy of its lottery scheme showing how it proposes to run its lotteries.
• Copy the application to the local police district commander.

Before deciding whether or not to grant an application, the council will hear any representations which the police may make. The application will be refused if the conditions in the definition of a society's lottery are not satisfied or if the lottery scheme does not conform to the law.

The application may also be refused if:

• Anyone connected with a lottery promoted or proposed to be promoted on behalf of the society has been convicted of an offence involving lotteries, fraud or dishonesty;

or

• The address of the office or head office of the society is the same as that of the office or head office of another registered society established for the same or a connected purpose;

or

• Any lottery promoted by or on behalf of the society within the last 5 years has not been properly conducted.

 
A registered society must notify the district council:

• Of any change in the address of the society's office or head office within 21 days of the change taking effect

and

• Of any change in its lottery scheme before any tickets are sold under the amended scheme. (A lottery scheme being contrary to law is one of the grounds upon which a district council may a society’s registration.)

Fees

• £35.00 – payable when applying for initial registration.
• £17.50 – annual renewal fee to maintain registration.
• Fees are non-refundable.

Registration Application Form

A fee of £35 must be paid when sending your application. This covers all lotteries for the calendar year in which the application is made.

Please refer to the Guidance Notes for Application Form for Registration and Retention of a Society for details on the information needed.

Renewing your Lottery Licence

Lottery registrations expire on 31 December each year.

To keep your licence valid, you must:

• Complete and return a Renewal of Registration Form, allowing at least two weeks for processing.
• Pay the non-refundable renewal fee of £17.50.

How to Apply

Apply Online:

Application forms can be obtained by clicking in the downloads section below or from the Council's Downpatrick or Newry offices at the following addresses:

Newry Office
Licensing Section
Unit 19 Rampart Road
Greenbank Industrial Estate
Newry, BT34 2QU

Downpatrick Office
Licensing Section
Downshire Civic Centre
Downshire Estate
Ardglass Road
Downpatrick, BT30 6GQ

Contact Details

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0330 137 4030