Lotteries’ aid for good causes in focus

Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the consultation was in response to the changing lottery market, including the increasing use of schemes that promote several lotteries under one banner, such as the Health Lottery.

The consultation, which will begin in the new year, “will explore ways of ensuring that the market delivers the maximum benefit to good causes”, including those supported by the National Lottery.

It will also look at the case for changing the minimum percentage of proceeds that society lotteries are required to apply to their good causes, which is currently set at 20 per cent.

Ms Miller said: “Lotteries are hugely important in raising very large amounts money for charities and community groups up and down the country. But with a changing market it is right that we make sure that the main priority for each and every lottery is to raise money for good causes.”