North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain has introduced a bill to remove the ticket sales cap on charity lotteries, a change that could unlock hundreds of millions in funding for charitable organizations.Â
Under the current law, charity lotteries like the People’s Postcode Lottery are restricted to selling £50 million worth of tickets annually, limiting the support they can provide.
Boosting charity funding without extra costs
Ms. Chamberlain argues that removing the current limit will not cause any sort of financial burden on the government, therefore, they are unnecessary.
“These restrictions serve no clear purpose and lifting them won’t cost the Treasury a penny, but it will significantly boost charities at a time when fundraising is increasingly challenging,” she said.
The People’s Postcode Lottery, which donates 33% of its ticket sales to charities, has been a very strong advocate for this reform. Clara Govier, their managing Director highlighted that the sales cap on the lottery is gradually creating growing challenges for charitable organizations, especially as they try to navigate the high economic pressure and increasing cost of operation.Â
Ms. Chamberlain has also emphasized the need for the proposed change as it could have a transformative impact on charities in her constituency and the UK, hence enabling organizations to deliver critical services and support.
Charity lottery reform: Local and national impact
Maggie’s Chief Executive, Laura Lee, has described the charity lotteries as “transformational” because of their ability to provide vital funding. Additionally, she pointed out that it is illogical on the part of the government regulations to hinder the positive impact of these lotteries.
This is not the first time Ms. Chamberlain has championed change through a private members’ bill. In a previous effort, she successfully passed legislation granting unpaid carers the statutory right to five days of leave annually.
Her new proposal has gained cross-party support and is set for its second reading in Parliament. If successful, the bill could help ease the financial strain on charities and provide an essential lifeline to organizations facing growing demand for their services.
By focusing on and addressing these outdated restrictions, the reform has the potential to amplify the life-changing work of charity lotteries and secure much-needed funding for vital uses both locally and nationwide.