The UK Gambling Commission has pledged to intensify enforcement against illegal lotteries and unlicensed gambling operators following another record-breaking year for the country’s society lottery sector.
Speaking at the Lotteries Council Annual Conference, Ian Angus revealed that society lotteries generated more than £1 billion in Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) during the 2024/25 financial year while raising £484.6 million for charitable causes.
Society Lotteries Reach New Milestone
The sector achieved record results for a second consecutive year, with GGY increasing 4.7% year-on-year. Contributions to charitable causes also rose by 4.8%, while players received more than £316 million in prize payouts.
According to data from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, society lotteries have become the country’s second most popular gambling product. Around 17% of adults, approximately nine million people, participated in a society lottery between July and October 2025.
The category now ranks ahead of general betting, which attracted 10% of adults, while remaining behind the National Lottery, which reached 32% participation.
Digital channels continue to drive growth, with remote sales accounting for £793.3 million of total GGY compared with £314.9 million generated through non-remote channels.
Gambling Commission Expands Enforcement Efforts
Despite the sector’s strong performance, the Gambling Commission warned that illegal lotteries and unlicensed gambling operations continue to pose risks to consumers and legitimate charitable organizations.
To address the issue, the regulator will use £26 million in government funding over the next three years to strengthen enforcement capabilities. The funding will support automation initiatives, black-market analysis, and the development of Great Britain’s first national assessment of illegal gambling activity in collaboration with the Illegal Gambling Taskforce.
The Commission reported significant enforcement activity in recent years. Social media platforms removed 356 illegal lottery operations during 2025, compared with 190 in 2024, while a further 79 removals have already taken place in 2026.
During the last financial year, the regulator also issued 741 cease-and-desist notices, blocked or removed access to 1,134 websites, and facilitated the removal of more than 266,000 illegal URLs from search engine results.
Consumer Protection Remains a Priority
Alongside enforcement, the Gambling Commission continues to focus on consumer safety. Recent survey data showed that 2.7% of adults recorded scores associated with problem gambling risk.
Although society lotteries generally present lower levels of gambling-related harm than many other products, Angus emphasized that operators should remain vigilant, particularly as high-risk consumers often participate across multiple gambling categories.
The regulator has also launched its new Licence Support service, providing operators with direct access to compliance guidance and technical support.
Monitoring Changes in the Lottery Market
The Commission also highlighted the introduction of the government’s voluntary code for prize draws, which took effect on 20 May. While free prize draws and competitions fall outside the regulator’s direct oversight, the Commission said it will continue monitoring the boundary between those products and illegal lotteries.
As participation in society lotteries continues to grow, the Gambling Commission appears determined to protect the licensed market through stronger enforcement, enhanced compliance support, and closer scrutiny of illegal gambling activity.
