Advocating for the Removal of the £50 Million Cap on Charity Lottery Sales: Urgent Action Needed to Support Charities

Gordon MP Richard Thomson is advocating for the removal of the £50 million cap on annual charity lottery sales. This cap significantly hinders the ability of lotteries to provide funding to charities, resulting in a loss of millions of pounds in support for third sector organizations.

The demand for funding from charities has surged amidst the cost of living crisis and the aftermath of the pandemic. However, charity lotteries are the only form of gambling product subject to annual sales caps, imposing an unnecessary limit on the funds raised for good causes.

To address this issue, Mr. Thomson organized a virtual funding surgery with the People’s Postcode Lottery for local voluntary organizations. He is also supporting their campaign to urge the UK Government to urgently remove the £50 million sales limit on charity lotteries. This action is crucial to ensure that charities across the country do not miss out on vital funding.

The current cap of £50 million represents a 17.4% decrease in real terms due to high inflation and the cost of living crisis. If the cap remains in place, its value will continue to erode every year. Over the next five years, approximately 100 charities supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery are projected to lose out on over £175 million in additional funding.

Mr. Thomson has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, emphasizing the importance of removing the charity lottery annual sales limit. He highlights that it is unjust for essential funding to be withheld from good causes that provide services to vulnerable individuals due to outdated regulations.

In conclusion, it is imperative for the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the UK Government to take action and eliminate the charity lottery sales limit. By doing so, they can make a significant difference to charities and ensure that they receive the necessary funding to support society's most vulnerable people.

If you would like to respond to this article, you can submit your thoughts here and they may be published in print.