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Definition of lottery A lottery is defined as an arrangement which falls into one of the following two categories. Simple lottery: - persons are required to pay in order to participate in the arrangement;
- in the course of the arrangement one or more prizes are allocated to one or more members of a class;
- the prizes are allocated by a process which relies wholly on chance.
Complex lottery: - persons are required to pay in order to participate in the arrangement;
- in the course of the arrangement one or more prizes are allocated to one or more members of a class;
- the prizes are allocated by a series of processes; and
- the first of those processes relies wholly on chance.
Types of lotteries A lottery is unlawful unless it is run in accordance with an operating licence issued by the Gambling Commission (www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/Client/index.asp?ContentId=1) or it is an exempt lottery. The exceptions are: - incidental non-commercial lotteries (those that are run as an additional amusement at non-commercial events with tickets sold only during the event, such as a raffle at a dance or church fair;
- private lotteries (those that require members of a society, place of work or single residential unit e.g. a raffle at a student hall of residence);
- customer lotteries (run by occupiers of a business for the benefit of the customers who buy tickets sold on the premises e.g. supermarket holding a hamper raffle);
- small society lotteries.
Licensing Unit Responsibility We are responsible for the registration of small society lotteries in the Medway area. These are non-commerical societies established and conducted: - for charitable purposes;
- for the purpose of enabling participation in or of supporting, sport, athletics or a cultural activity;
- for any other non-commerical purpose other than private gain.
Further information and legislation can be found on the following websites
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