Key points:
- Hillary Clinton has supported changes to Northern Ireland’s charity lottery regulations
- The Lotteries for Communities Bill proposes expanding the scope of charity lotteries in Northern Ireland
Hillary Clinton has issued a video message backing proposed legislative changes to charity lottery laws in Northern Ireland. The message was presented at a People's Postcode Lottery event at Stormont.
The endorsement follows the launch of a public consultation by Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland on the Lotteries for Communities Bill. This bill seeks to amend existing legislation to allow larger charity lotteries to operate in Northern Ireland.
Malcolm Fleming, People’s Postcode Lottery Director of Public Affairs, noted that current restrictions limit fundraising potential.
However, Allwyn UK, the National Lottery operator in Northern Ireland, has pointed out that allowing larger society lotteries could result in financial losses to National Lottery-funded causes. Their research suggests a possible £5.4m ($7m) annual reduction in funding within five years if changes are made.
Mulholland has argued that research from Great Britain indicates large society lotteries do not significantly affect National Lottery participation.
Northern Ireland’s current lottery and gambling laws are contained within the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, which includes limits on charity lottery scale and pricing. The law does not comprehensively address online gambling or require industry contributions toward problem gambling support.
Good to know: The People's Postcode Lottery donates a minimum of 30% of ticket sales to charity
The consultation aims to gather public opinion on the potential benefits and risks of expanding charity lottery operations.
Northern Ireland’s lottery framework differs from that in Great Britain, restricting certain lottery types. The most recent legislative update on gambling in Northern Ireland was in 2022, focusing on operational hours for bookmakers and bingo halls.
Hillary stated: “Through our visits to Northern Ireland over the years, we know how vital the charity sector and civil society are.”
