New research indicates that the public supports a relaxation of the regulations governing charity lotteries that prevent them from competing with the National Lottery.

Research consultancy nfpSynergy carried out an online survey of 1,000 adults between 23 March and 2 April which found that 61 per cent of respondents were opposed to laws and regulations preventing other lotteries from raising as much as the National Lottery, and 57 per cent thought that charity-run lotteries should be able to compete with the National Lottery and Health Lottery.

Joe Saxton, who is driver of ideas at nfpSynergy and is also leading a coalition campaigning for reform of lottery regulation, said: “The government and the Gambling Commission should relax some of the rules around charity lotteries.  The public clearly say, in this research, that these rules are unnecessary, even unfair; and charities themselves know they make lotteries more difficult to run and less able to raise money.  

"This is holding their fundraising back in the face of both the economic downturn and the ‘duopoly’ of the National Lottery and the Health Lottery.”

The research also found that 54 per cent of the people surveyed had played the National Lottery in the past month, 12 per cent had played the Health Lottery and 21 per cent had played a charity lottery.

Earlier this month the coalition launched a consultation document which will form the basis of the campaign and is accepting responses until 28 May. It suggests that the £10m a year turnover limit and £4m for one prize draw limit be scrapped.

A survey conducted by nfpSynergy and Fundraising magazine last year found that this was not the most pressing issues for most charities as many operate well below the £10m limit.

Saxton gave the keynote speech at the Lotteries Council Annual Conference yesterday. Our blogger David Philpott was there and has been inspired to offer his own solution to the issue of lottery regulation: read his blog here.