The Gambling Act 2005 (Monetary Limits for Lotteries) Bill, introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain on January 24, 2025, aims to revolutionize charity fundraising in the United Kingdom by removing the current caps on charity lottery ticket sales5. This private member’s bill proposes to amend the Gambling Act 2005 by eliminating the annual £50 million limit on ticket sales for charity lotteries, while maintaining the existing £500,000 maximum prize limit25.
Under the current legislation, charity lotteries face restrictions that other gambling products do not. Each charity lottery is capped at selling £50 million worth of tickets annually, with a £5 million limit per draw4. These caps, which were increased from £10 million in 2020, have been criticized as outdated and restrictive to charitable fundraising efforts2. The People’s Postcode Lottery, a prominent charity lottery operator, estimates that removing the annual cap could generate an additional £175 million for charities over the next five years4.
The bill’s key provision is the removal of subsection (3) from section 99 of the Gambling Act 2005, which would effectively lift the annual sales cap for charity lotteries5. This change would allow unlimited charitable fundraising from licensed lottery sales while ensuring that the proceeds primarily benefit charities rather than creating larger prize pools. The bill also seeks to maintain the current £500,000 maximum prize limit by amending section 99(4) of the 2005 Act5.
Supporters of the bill argue that removing these “outdated” caps would help lotteries maximize their charity fundraising potential and boost the amount available to charities4. They point out the disparity between charity lotteries and other gambling products, which face no sales limits despite not contributing to societal benefits4. The bill has garnered support from over 100 charity leaders who see it as an opportunity to increase funding for various causes, especially in light of the challenging fundraising environment and increased demand for charitable services24.
The UK government, through Civil Society Minister Stephanie Peacock, has committed to publishing its decision on the proposed removal of the charity lottery sales cap by the summer of 202526. The government has commissioned independent research into the lotteries market to strengthen the evidence base for any potential reforms6. While the current picture shows growth in society lotteries since the 2020 limit changes, the government is keen to understand how increased sales translate into investment for good causes and to ensure that the lottery system continues to benefit charities effectively