A proposal to allow large society lotteries like the People’s Postcode Lottery to operate in Northern Ireland has caused debate over the potential benefits to charities.
Alliance Party politician Sian Mulholland is consulting on her bill which would allow large society lotteries, currently restricted to operating in Great Britain, to operate in Northern Ireland.
The Lotteries Council, which represents over 500 charity lottery operators in Britain, has said its larger members have identified “significant potential funding benefits for good causes” if Mulholland’s bill were to pass in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
However, the operator of the National Lottery, which already runs in Northern Ireland, said the proposals would cost millions of pounds to the charities it supports.
Opposition from Allwyn
Mulholland’s consultation, which opened last week and will run until 31 July, proposes that Northern Irish laws allowing smaller society lotteries to operate in the country are extended to larger operators.
“By allowing large society charity lotteries from both Great Britain and Northern Ireland to operate here in Northern Ireland, we can unlock significant financial support for charities and organisations,” it says.
“These large society lotteries have already proven to be highly successful in Great Britain and across Europe, raising vital funds through ticket sales.
“I believe it is time for Northern Ireland to benefit from this opportunity and strengthen our ability to support the charities and community groups that mean so much to us all.”
The National Lottery currently operates in Northern Ireland as it is governed under its own Westminster-created legislation.
Allwyn, which became the National Lottery’s operator last year, warned that changes to current legislation risked long-term stability.
“These proposals will cost millions of pounds to National Lottery-funded charities and retailers,” said director of communications Gillian Taylor.
“As experience in Great Britain shows, the operation of industrial-scale society lotteries has reduced the funding for National Lottery Good Causes and the public purse by £1bn over 10 years.
“The Northern Ireland lottery framework has successfully delivered National Lottery funds to places that really need it for 30 years in a sustained, long-term way with local funders who are part of their local communities and who understand their needs.
“It is a model that really works. We believe that changing this landscape – with the possible introduction of the People's Postcode Lottery and other industrial scale society lotteries – puts all of that long-term stability at risk.”
Lotteries Council support for bill
Nick Cook, chair of public affairs at the Lotteries Council, said its members such as People’s Postcode Lottery and Local Hospice Lottery had identified significant potential funding benefits for good causes in Northern Ireland via charity lottery fundraising.
“We are also aware of the National Lottery operator Allwyn’s regrettable position on our sector’s desire to operate UK-wide,” said Cook.
“Particularly given that the Allwyn appears oblivious to the fact that unregulated, for-profit prize draws like Omaze already operate in Northern Ireland, we hope Ms Mullholland’s bill will succeed in opening up another much-needed funding stream for the good causes charity lotteries exist to fund.”
Clara Govier, managing director of People’s Postcode Lottery, added: “There is great untapped potential for charity lottery fundraising in Northern Ireland.
“For years we have been contacted by people wanting to play our lottery and by charities wanting to unlock that funding potential.
“Sian Mulholland’s proposed bill will make a great difference to a great many charities and the people and communities those charities support. We urge MLAs from all parties to give it their support.”
Meanwhile, Allwyn recently revealed that the Gambling Commission is reviewing whether to take enforcement action over its failure to meet a contractual milestone regarding contributions to good causes.
On this, a Gambling Commission spokesperson said: “Where the Gambling Commission decides to commence enforcement action, the process is investigative in nature.
“We do not usually talk about individual cases. We may publish information about enforcement cases once they are complete.”
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