QUICKLINKS
Q1. Registering a society
Q2. Can a lottery licence be refused?
Q3. What is the cost involved?
Q4. Lottery Returns
Q5. Offences and Penalties
Q6. Further Information

Q1. Registering a society

The Council may register a society, which is established for one of the following purposes:
Charitable purposes; participation in or support of athletic sports or games or cultural activities; purposes which, not being described in paragraph (1) or (2) above, are neither purposes of private gain or commercial undertaking.
If the total amount of chances sold for any one lottery is less that £20,000 or the total for all lotteries held in a calendar year is less than £250,000 then the society must register with the Council.

If a society wishes to run lotteries which exceed these amounts they must register with the Gambling Commission and must promote all further lotteries (of whatever size) held in that or the three following calendar years under the Board's registration, and will not be able to change to a local authroity registration during that time.
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Q2. Can a lottery licence be refused?

If the Council propose to refuse to register a society they will first give the society an opportunity of being heard, and will eventually notify their decision to the society. If registration is finally refused the society has a right to appeal to the Crown Court, except where the Gambling Commision have refused or revoked the society's registration.
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Q3. What is the cost involved?

When applying for a registration the society must pay a registration fee. Each registration expires on the 31st December each year. If a society wishes to continue to be registered they must pay a renewal fee on or before the 31st March of the follwoing year. Currently the fee is £40.00 to register and £20.00 for a renewal. 
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Q4. Lottery returns

When a lottery has been held, the promoter must complete and send a return form to the Council, not later than the end of the third month after the date of the lottery. The return must be ceritified by two members of the society, (other than the promoter) being persons 18 years old or over appointed in writing by the society's governing body. Return forms will be sent to each socity with their registration certificate. Further forms can be obtained from within the download area.
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Q5. Offences and Penalties

Any breechs of the conditions of a society's registration constitutes an offence for which the promoter (unless te contavention took place with or without his or her knowledge) and any person who is a party to any breech of conditions will be liable to prosecution, and if found guilt on a summary conviction may be subject to a fine not exceeding £5,000, or if convicted on indictment, to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine or both.

Anybody found guilty of failing to complete return forms and send them to the Council within three months of the date of a lottery, or falsifying a return frm, may be subject to a fine not exceeding £5,000 if convicted on a summary offence or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine or both if convicted on indictment.
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Q6. Further Information

Copies of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 and other legislation mentioned here may be obtained from Office of Public Sector Information.

A copy of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 can be inspected at the Council Offices, where you may also obtain further help or advice.

This Licence can be applied for at the District Council Offices.  Enquiries can be made by contacting us on 01621 854477 or emailing environmentservices.request@maldon.gov.uk .

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