Lottery Good Cause Contributions

Contributions to good causes and lottery seem to go hand in hand - particularly in the UK. Everything from Wembley Stadium to the Angel of the North has been paid for by the National Lottery funding.

These days there are many different lotteries available to UK lottery players. It’s easy to think they’re contributing to good causes equally, however, this isn’t the case. Our guide below explains which lotteries donate to good causes and which don’t:

Good Cause Contribution by Lottery & Method

Note: The table below is reflective of the user playing/betting from the UK.

Ways to Engage from UK

Why Do Some Lotteries Donate To Good Causes and Others Do Not?

It all comes down to the kind of license the operator holds. Operators with a lottery license that has been issued by the UK Gambling Commission are required to donate to good causes.

“Lotteries can only be run for good causes and cannot be run for commercial gain.” - UK Gambling Commission

Operators that offer overseas lotteries such as the US Powerball, US Mega Millions or Eurojackpot don’t hold lottery licenses in the UK. They hold bookmaker licenses. This is because you are actually placing a bet on the outcome of these overseas lotteries, not purchasing a ticket. Read more here.

We can also categorise license holders by their brand names too: