How the GivingLottery is low risk
Giving with Confidence: How the GivingLottery Keeps Fundraising Safe and Responsible
At TheGivingMachine, our mission is to empower UK charities and community groups by providing innovative, sustainable fundraising solutions. The GivingLottery, launched in 2019, is a key part of that mission. A weekly lottery designed not just for fun, but to make a real difference for good causes.
While the GivingLottery offers players the excitement of winning prizes up to £25,000, its core purpose is fundraising - not gambling. We are committed to ensuring that our lottery remains a low-risk, socially responsible way to support the causes you care about.
A Charity-First Approach
Every £1 ticket purchased helps fund vital work in communities across Great Britain:
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40p goes directly to the good cause chosen by the player.
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20p supports TheGivingMachine’s broader charitable initiatives.
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20p funds the prize pot.
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20p covers platform administration and VAT.
This means 60% of each ticket supports charitable work - more than double the 25% typically allocated to good causes by the National Lottery.
Good causes receive unrestricted funds, allowing them to use the money where it's needed most. With no setup fees or administrative burdens, charities can focus on their mission while we handle the logistics.
Designed for Low Risk
The GivingLottery is structured to minimise risk and promote responsible play:
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Tickets cost just £1 per week.
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Players have a 1 in 50 chance of winning a prize each week.
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The maximum jackpot is capped at £25,000.
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Players must be 18 or older and physically located in Great Britain.
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The platform is licenced and regulated by the Gambling Commission.
These measures ensure that the GivingLottery remains a fun and affordable way to support good causes without encouraging excessive gambling behaviour.
Promoting Responsible Play
We take our responsibility seriously and have implemented several features to support safe participation:
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Self-Exclusion: Players can voluntarily exclude themselves from the lottery for a period ranging from 6 months to 5 years.
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Age Verification: Strict procedures are in place to prevent underage play.
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Support Resources: We provide information and links to organisations like GambleAware and GamCare for those seeking help.
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No Promotional Contact During Exclusion: We refrain from sending promotional materials to individuals who have opted for self-exclusion.
Our goal is to ensure that participation in the GivingLottery remains a positive experience, aligned with our commitment to social responsibility.
A Platform Built for Impact
The GivingLottery is more than a game – it's a powerful tool for change. At its heart, it’s about making giving accessible, fun, and impactful for everyone involved. By offering a simple, low-risk way for people to support the charities they care about, the GivingLottery transforms weekly participation into a consistent and meaningful funding stream for good causes.
With over 575 charities and community groups already benefitting from the platform, the reach is both wide and growing. These funds help support a diverse range of causes, everything from local schools, animal rescues, and food banks to national health initiatives and environmental organisations. Best of all, the unrestricted nature of the funds gives charities the flexibility to use them where they are needed most, whether that’s keeping the lights on, launching new projects, or responding to urgent community needs.
If you're a charity or community group looking to boost your fundraising efforts, consider joining the GivingLottery. Together, we can make giving go further—safely, responsibly, and effectively.
About the author
Luisa Gatward
Our Head of Operations, Luisa is responsible for the smooth running of all operations including marketing and partner relationships. Having started working for TheGivingMachine in 2010, she has seen our Charity grow and develop into what we have today.