MP Wendy Chamberlain proposes bill to remove caps on lottery’s charity fundraising

Wendy Chamberlain for North East Fife Facebook

Ministers of Parliament in the United Kingdom, this week, will discuss a bill that seeks to remove the ‘outdated’ caps on charity lottery fundraising - a move that could release an additional £175m for charities over the next five years. 

The bill, which was introduced by Wendy Chamberlain who is the Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife, will be debated by members of parliament at its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday 24 January. 

Under current legislation, charity lotteries are restricted to selling a maximum of £50m in tickets per year. The proposed legislation seeks to remove this cap and allow charities to maximise their potential. 

Speaking about the proposal, Chamberlain said: “I am delighted to introduce my second Private Members Bill to Parliament, which aims to remove the sales limits on charity lotteries and allow them to maximise their charity fundraising; and therefore, the amount available to charity themselves.

“Charity lotteries play a vital role in supporting charities, large and small, across Britain yet they are subject to limits on their sales; which ties them up in red tape and restricts their effectiveness.

“I have seen for myself the benefit to local charities from lottery funding,” Chamberlain continued. “Good causes ranging from farming experiences and skill building for people with additional support needs, to walking groups and local community projects that have received funding within the last year in North East Fife alone.”

The People’s Postcode Lottery, a UK-based subscription lottery service which donates 33% of its ticket revenue to charity, estimated that lifting this cap could generate an additional £175m for charities over the next five years.

Clara Govier, managing director of People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “The charity lottery sales limits are causing increasing difficulties for charity lottery fundraising at a time when charities need these vital funds to respond to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

“Therefore we welcome Wendy Chamberlain in bringing forward this Bill and urge MPs across Parliament to support it.”

Lindsey MacDonald, chief executive of the children’s charity Magic Breakfast, added: "At Magic Breakfast, we are responding to a vastly increased need, yet because of the caps our funding cannot increase. 

“We join leaders across the charity sector who are calling on parliament to take action and resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

Chamberlain concluded: “The current limits have no obvious purpose and removing them would cost the Treasury nothing, yet it will help boost charities at a time when they face a difficult fundraising environment. 

“It is bizarre that every other type of gambling product has no limit on sales, yet the product that does so much good for society through supporting our charities is capped. That is why I am hopeful to have the government support this on Friday and help to boost charity lottery fundraising.”

The bill has already gathered cross-party interest and urged the government to support it and help charities streamline their fundraising efforts during a challenging economic climate.

The National Lottery, and other charity-based lotteries within the UK do lots for local communities. Recently, the National Lottery donated £1.25m to places of worship as well as raising £10m for their DUNE project across the North East of England.