Law

National Lottery etc. Act 1993

United Kingdom · statute

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In force since 2023-02-07, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 100 provisions
  1. Title and introductory text
  2. 1 The National Lottery.
  3. 2 Legality of lotteries forming part of the National Lottery.
  4. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  5. 3A The Gambling Commission.
  6. 4 Overriding duties of the Secretary of State and Director General.
  7. 4A Consultation with Gambling Commission
  8. 4B Disclosure of information
  9. 4C Wrongful disclosure
  10. 5 Licensing of a person to run the National Lottery.
  11. 6 Licensing of persons to promote lotteries.
  12. 7 Licences under sections 5 and 6: further provisions.
  13. 7A Annual fee
  14. 8 Variation of conditions in licences.
  15. 9 Enforcement of conditions in licences.
  16. 10 Revocation of licences.
  17. 10A Financial penalties for breach of conditions in licences.
  18. 10B Appeals against financial penalties.
  19. 10C Annual levy
  20. 11 Directions to the Director General.
  21. 12 Regulations as to the promotion of lotteries.
  22. 13 Contravention of regulations an offence.
  23. 14 Annual report.
  24. 15 Power of the Secretary of State to require information.
  25. 16 False representations as to the National Lottery.
  26. 17 Extension of powers of Horserace Totalisator Board.
  27. 18 Control of betting on the National Lottery.
  28. 19 Restriction of enactments relating to the rehabilitation of offenders.
  29. 20 Interpretation of Part I.
  30. 21 The National Lottery Distribution Fund.
  31. 22 Apportionment of money in Distribution Fund.
  32. 23 The distributing bodies.
  33. 24 Payments from Distribution Fund to distributing bodies.
  34. 25 Application of money by distributing bodies.
  35. 25A Delegation by distributing bodies of their powers of distribution.
  36. 25B Joint schemes for distribution of money by distributing bodies.
  37. 25C Strategic plans for distributing bodies.
  38. 25D Strategic plans for distributing bodies in or as regards Scotland
  39. 25E Distribution of funds: publicity
  40. 26 Directions to distributing bodies.
  41. 26A Directions to distributing bodies in or as regards Scotland
  42. 27 Power to prohibit distribution in certain cases.
  43. 28 Power to amend section 22.
  44. 29 Power to amend section 23.
  45. 29A Reallocation of funds
  46. 30 Winding up of fund allocated under section 22(3)(e).
  47. 31 Payments from Distribution Fund in respect of expenses.
  48. 32 Investment of Distribution Fund.
  49. 33 Accounts of the Secretary of State and National Debt Commissioners.
  50. 34 Annual reports by distributing bodies ....
  51. 35 Accounts of distributing bodies other than the Big Lottery Fund .
  52. 36 Amendment of the National Heritage Act 1980.
  53. 36A The Fund
  54. 36B Power to distribute funds
  55. 36C Non-lottery funds
  56. 36D Power to give advice
  57. 36E Directions
  58. 37 The National Lottery Charities Board.
  59. 38 Grants to charities etc.
  60. 39 Accounts.
  61. 40 The Millennium Commission.
  62. 41 Grants in respect of projects.
  63. 42 Annual report.
  64. 43 Accounts.
  65. 43A The New Opportunities Fund.
  66. 43B Functions of the New Opportunities Fund.
  67. 43C Provisions supplemental to section 43B.
  68. 43CC Directions to New Opportunities Fund in or as regards Scotland
  69. 43D Accounts.
  70. 44 Interpretation of Part II.
  71. 45 Interpretation of Part III.
  72. 46 Importation and exportation restrictions.
  73. 47 Private lotteries.
  74. 48 Registration of societies.
  75. 49 Registration of lottery schemes.
  76. 50 Lottery managers.
  77. 51 Frequency of lotteries.
  78. 52 Rules for lotteries.
  79. 53 Offences.
  80. 54 Powers of the Secretary of State to vary monetary limits and to prescribe or vary fees.
  81. 55 Interpretation of the 1976 Act.
  82. 56 Removal of prohibition on the use of premises for the delivery of football pools coupons and stakes.
  83. 57 Reduction of age limit in relation to football pool betting.
  84. 58 Roll-over of prize money.
  85. 59 Pool promoters’ dividends.
  86. 60 Orders and regulations.
  87. 61 Directions.
  88. 62 Expenses.
  89. 63 Northern Ireland
  90. 64 Repeals.
  91. 65 Commencement.
  92. 66 Short title.
  93. SCHEDULE 1 LEGALITY ETC. OF LOTTERIES FORMING PART OF THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
  94. SCHEDULE 2
  95. Schedule 2A The Gambling Commission
  96. SCHEDULE 3 REVOCATION OF LICENCES
  97. Schedule 3A Joint schemes: supplementary provisions
  98. SCHEDULE 4 AMENDMENT OF THE NATIONAL HERITAGE ACT 1980 (C.17)
  99. SCHEDULE 4A THE BIG LOTTERY FUND
  100. SCHEDULE 10 REPEALS

Proposed changes to this act

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100 provisions

Title and introductory text

National Lottery etc. Act 1993 1993 c. 39 An Act to authorise lotteries to be promoted as part of a National Lottery; to make provision with respect to the running and regulation of that National Lottery and with respect to the distribution of its net proceeds; to increase the membership and extend the powers of the Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund; to amend section 1 of the Revenue Act 1898 and the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976; to amend the law relating to pool betting; and for connected purposes. [21st October 1993] BE IT ENACTED by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

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1 The National Lottery.

(1) In this Act “the National Lottery” means all the lotteries that form part of the National Lottery, taken as a whole. (2) A lottery forms part of the National Lottery if the following conditions are satisfied. (3) The lottery must be promoted or proposed to be promoted— (a) by the person licensed to run the National Lottery under section 5, or (b) in pursuance of an agreement that has been made between that person and the lottery’s promoter or proposed promoter. (4) The promotion of the lottery must be authorised by a licence that has been granted to its promoter or proposed promoter under section 6.

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2 Legality of lotteries forming part of the National Lottery.

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3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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3A The Gambling Commission.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) Schedule 2A makes provision in relation to the Gambling Commission.

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4 Overriding duties of the Secretary of State and Director General.

(1) The Secretary of State and (subject to any directions he may be given by the Secretary of State under section 11) the Director General shall each exercise his functions under this Part in the manner he considers the most likely to secure— (a) that the National Lottery is run, and every lottery that forms part of it is promoted, with all due propriety, and (b) that the interests of every participant in a lottery that forms part of the National Lottery are protected. (2) Subject to subsection (1), the Secretary of State and the Director General shall each in exercising those functions do his best to secure that the net proceeds of the National Lottery are as great as possible. (3) In subsection (2) “the net proceeds of the National Lottery” means the sums that are paid to the Secretary of State by virtue of section 5(6).

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4A Consultation with Gambling Commission

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4B Disclosure of information

(1) The Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs may disclose information to the Gambling Commission for use in the exercise of its national lottery functions. (2) The Gambling Commission may disclose information received by it in the exercise of its national lottery functions to the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. (3) Information disclosed under this section shall not be further disclosed except in accordance with subsection (4). (4) Information may be further disclosed— (a) for the purpose of complying with an enactment, (b) in pursuance of an order of a court, (c) for the purpose of legal proceedings connected with the operation of an enactment relating to lotteries, (d) with the consent of the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, (e) with the consent of each person to whom the information relates, or (f) to the Comptroller and Auditor General for the purposes of the exercise of functions under Part II of the National Audit Act 1983 (c. 44). (5) This section has effect despite any prohibition or restriction that would otherwise prevent disclosure of information. (6) In this section “national lottery functions” means functions conferred or imposed under or by virtue of— (a) a provision of this Act other than section 10C, and (b) Part 3 of the Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004.

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4C Wrongful disclosure

(1) This section applies to a person— (a) who is or was an officer or employee of the Gambling Commission, or (b) who acts or acted on behalf of the Gambling Commission. (2) A person to whom this section applies commits an offence if he discloses information received from the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in contravention of section 4B(3) and the information relates to a person whose identity— (a) is specified in the disclosure, or (b) can be deduced from it. (3) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section of disclosing information to prove that he reasonably believed— (a) that the disclosure was lawful, or (b) that the information had already and lawfully been made available to the public. (4) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable— (a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both, or (b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months the general limit in a magistrates’ court, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both. (5) In relation to a conviction occurring before 2 May 2022 the reference in subsection (4)(b) to 12 months the general limit in a magistrates’ court shall have effect as if it were a reference to six months. (6) In the application of this section to Scotland or Northern Ireland the reference in subsection (4)(b) to 12 months shall be taken as a reference to six months.

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5 Licensing of a person to run the National Lottery.

(1) The Director General may by licence authorise a person to run the National Lottery. (2) Only one person may be licensed under this section at any one time. (3) The Director General shall not grant a licence under this section unless an application in writing, containing such information as he has specified as necessary for enabling him to determine whether to grant it, has been made to him by such date as he has specified. (4) The Director General shall not grant such a licence unless he is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to run the National Lottery. (5) In determining whether to grant such a licence, the Director General may consider— (a) whether any person who appears to him to be likely to manage the business or any part of the business of running the National Lottery under the licence is a fit and proper person to do so, and (b) whether any person who appears to him to be likely to be a person for whose benefit that business would be carried on is a fit and proper person to benefit from it. (6) A licence under this section shall include a condition requiring the licensee to pay into the National Lottery Distribution Fund sums out of the proceeds of lotteries forming part of the National Lottery. (6A) A licence under this section shall include provision for determining— (a) the amount of payments under subsection (6), and (b) the timing of payments under subsection (6). (7) A licence under this section may include a condition requiring the licensee to make such arrangements as may be determined by or under the licence for securing that, in circumstances specified in the licence, such sums as may be so determined are paid to the Director General for distribution to participants in lotteries forming part of the National Lottery.

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6 Licensing of persons to promote lotteries.

(1) The Director General may by licence authorise a person to promote lotteries as part of the National Lottery. (2) A licence under this section shall specify the lotteries, or descriptions of lottery, the promotion of which it authorises. (3) The Director General shall not grant such a licence unless an application in writing, containing such information as he has specified as necessary for enabling him to determine whether to grant it, has been made to him. (4) The Director General shall not grant such a licence unless he is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to promote lotteries under the licence. (5) In determining whether to grant such a licence, the Director General may consider— (a) whether any person who appears to him to be likely to manage the business or any part of the business of promoting lotteries under the licence is a fit and proper person to do so, and (b) whether any person who appears to him to be likely to be a person for whose benefit that business would be carried on is a fit and proper person to benefit from it. (6) A licence under this section may include a condition requiring the licensee to obtain the Director General’s approval of the rules of any lottery before the lottery is promoted under the licence.

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7 Licences under sections 5 and 6: further provisions.

(1) A licence granted under section 5 or 6 shall be in writing and shall specify the period for which (subject to being revoked or suspended) it is to have effect. (1A) The period specified under subsection (1) must— (a) begin with the date of grant of the licence, and (b) not exceed 15 years. (1B) A licence granted under section 5 or 6 may (subject to the restriction in subsection (1A)(b)) include— (a) provision enabling the period specified under subsection (1) to be extended by the Commission; (b) provision enabling the period specified under subsection (1) to be extended by agreement between the Commission and the licensee. (2) A licence granted under section 5 or 6 may include such conditions (in addition to those required or authorised by section 5 or 6) as the Director General considers appropriate and in particular may include conditions requiring the licensee— (a) to obtain the consent of the Director General before doing anything specified, or of a description specified, in the licence; (b) to refer matters to the Director General for approval; (c) to ensure that such requirements as the Director General may from time to time determine or approve are complied with; (d) to provide the Director General at times specified by him with such information as he may require (including, if the information is of a description specified in the licence, information for publication by him); (e) to allow the Director General to inspect and take copies of any documents of the licensee, including any information kept by the licensee otherwise than in writing, relating to the National Lottery or a lottery forming part of it; (f) where such information is kept by means of a computer, to give the Director General such assistance as he may require to enable him to inspect and take copies of the information in a visible and legible form or to inspect and check the operation of any computer, and any associated apparatus or material, that is or has been in use in connection with the keeping of the information; (g) to do such things (and, in particular, to effect such transfers of property or rights) as the Director General may require in connection with the licence ceasing to have effect and the grant of a licence to another person . (3) In subsection (2)(e) and (f) “the Director General” includes any representative of the Director General, as well as any member of his staff, who has been authorised by him (whether generally or specially) to make such an inspection. (4) Conditions in a licence granted under section 5 or 6 may impose requirements to be complied with by the licensee after the licence has ceased to have effect. (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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7A Annual fee

(1) The holder of a licence under section 5 or 6— (a) shall pay a first annual fee to the Commission within such period after the issue of the licence as may be prescribed, and (b) shall pay an annual fee to the Commission before each anniversary of the issue of the licence. (2) In this section— “annual fee” means a fee of such amount as may be prescribed, and “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State. (3) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply in relation to an anniversary of the issue of a licence on or immediately before which the licence ceases, by virtue of its terms, to have effect. (4) The Commission shall pay fees received by virtue of this section into the Consolidated Fund.

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8 Variation of conditions in licences.

(1) The Director General may vary any condition in a licence granted under section 5 or 6 if the licensee consents. (2) Subject to subsection (3), the Director General may vary any condition in such a licence without the licensee’s consent if the licensee has been given a reasonable opportunity of making representations to the Director General about the variation. (3) Subsection (2) does not apply— (a) where the variation would result in a condition requiring the licensee to transfer any property or rights, or (b) in the case of a licence granted under section 5, in relation to a condition that the licence provides may only be varied with the consent of the licensee. (4) Where the Director General varies a condition in a licence under subsection (2)— (a) he shall serve a notice on the licensee informing the licensee of the variation, and (b) the variation shall take effect at the end of such period as may be specified in the notice. (5) The period specified in the notice shall be a period of at least twenty-one days beginning with the date of the notice. (6) The Director General’s power to vary a condition in a licence under subsection (1) or (2) includes power to add a condition to the licence or omit a condition from it (and references in this section to the variation of a condition are to be read accordingly).

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9 Enforcement of conditions in licences.

(1) If, on an application made by the Director General, the court is satisfied— (a) that there is a reasonable likelihood that a person will contravene a condition in a licence granted under section 5 or 6, (b) that a person has contravened such a condition and there is a reasonable likelihood that the contravention will continue or be repeated, or (c) that a person has contravened such a condition and there are steps that could be taken for remedying the contravention, the court may grant an injunction restraining the contravention or, in Scotland, an interdict prohibiting the contravention or (as the case may be) make an order requiring the licensee, and any other person who appears to the court to have been party to the contravention, to take such steps as the court may direct to remedy it. (2) In subsection (1) “the court” means the High Court or, in Scotland, the Court of Session. (3) Where a sum is due to be paid to the National Lottery Distribution Fund by virtue of section 5(6)— (a) the sum shall be recoverable by the Secretary of State as a debt due to the Fund, and (b) the licensee’s liability to pay shall not be affected by his licence ceasing to have effect.

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10 Revocation of licences.

(1) The Director General shall revoke a licence granted under section 5 if he is satisfied that the licensee no longer is, or never was, a fit and proper person to run the National Lottery. (2) The Director General shall revoke a licence granted under section 6 if he is satisfied that the licensee no longer is, or never was, a fit and proper person to promote lotteries under the licence. (3) The Director General may revoke a licence granted under section 5 or 6— (a) if it appears to him that any of the grounds for revocation set out in Part I of Schedule 3 applies, or (b) if the licensee consents. (3A) The Commission shall revoke a licence granted under section 5 or 6 if the licensee fails to pay the annual fee in accordance with section 7A; but the Commission may disapply this subsection if it thinks that a failure to pay is attributable to administrative error. (4) Part II of Schedule 3 shall have effect in relation to the revocation of a licence under this section, other than a revocation with the licensee’s consent or under subsection (3A).

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10A Financial penalties for breach of conditions in licences.

(1) If the Director General is satisfied that a person has contravened a condition in a licence under section 5 or 6, he may impose a financial penalty on that person in respect of the contravention. (2) The matters to which the Director General may have regard in imposing a financial penalty include the desirability of both— (a) deterring persons from contravening conditions in licences under section 5 or 6, and (b) recovering any diminution in the sums paid to the Secretary of State under section 5(6) which is attributable to the contravention. (3) If the Director General proposes to impose a financial penalty on a person, he shall serve on that person a notice— (a) stating that the person has contravened conditions in the licence, (b) identifying the contraventions in question, (c) stating that the Director General proposes to impose a financial penalty, (d) specifying the amount of the financial penalty, (e) stating the Director General’s reasons— (i) for the imposition of a financial penalty, and (ii) for the amount of the financial penalty, (f) stating the person to whom the financial penalty is to be paid and the manner in which, and place at which, payment may be made, and (g) stating the effect of subsections (5) and (12). (4) A notice under subsection (3) must state that the person may, within the period of 21 days beginning with the date of the notice, either— (a) make written representations about the matter to the Director General, or (b) notify the Director General in writing of the person’s intention to make oral representations, and that the right of appeal conferred by section 10B is dependent on the person having made such written or oral representations. (5) If, within the period mentioned in subsection (4), the Director General receives neither— (a) written representations, nor (b) written notification of the person’s intention to make oral representations, the financial penalty shall become payable at the end of that period. (6) The Secretary of State may make regulations as to the procedure to be followed where a person’s intention to make oral representations is notified to the Director General as mentioned in subsection (4). (7) The regulations may in particular make provision— (a) for the financial penalty to become payable if the person fails to comply with any requirements imposed by or under the regulations, and (b) as to the hearing by the Director General of oral representations. (8) If— (a) any written representations against the imposition of the financial penalty are made as mentioned in subsection (4), or (b) any oral representations against the imposition of the financial penalty are made in accordance with regulations under subsection (6), subsection (9) shall apply. (9) Where this subsection applies, the Director General shall after taking the representations into account— (a) decide whether or not to impose a financial penalty, and (b) serve a further notice on the person informing the person of the decision. (10) Where the decision is to impose a financial penalty, the further notice must— (a) identify the contraventions in question, (b) specify the amount of the financial penalty imposed, (c) state the Director General’s reasons— (i) for the imposition of a financial penalty, and (ii) for the amount of the financial penalty, (d) state the person to whom the financial penalty is to be paid and the manner in which, and place at which, payment may be made, and (e) state the effect of subsections (11) and (12). (11) A financial penalty imposed by virtue of a decision under subsection (9) becomes payable on the date of the further notice. (12) A person on whom a financial penalty is imposed is required to pay the penalty within the period of fourteen days beginning with the date on which the financial penalty becomes payable. (13) If the whole or any part of a financial penalty is not paid within the period mentioned in subsection (12), then as from the end of that period the unpaid balance from time to time shall carry interest at the rate for the time being specified in section 17 of the Judgments Act 1838. (14) Where under this section one person (“the debtor”) becomes liable to pay a penalty to another person (“the creditor”)— (a) the penalty and any interest accrued under subsection (13) shall be recoverable by the Secretary of State from the debtor as a debt due to the creditor, and (b) the debtor’s liability to pay shall not be affected by his licence ceasing to have effect. (15) A penalty under this section may be payable partly to the National Lottery Distribution Fund and partly to the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund.

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10B Appeals against financial penalties.

(1) Where the Director General decides under subsection (9) of section 10A to impose a financial penalty on a person, the person may appeal against the decision on the grounds specified in subsection (2) or, as the case may be, subsection (3). (2) To the extent that an appeal under this section is against a finding by the Director General that a person contravened a condition of a licence, the grounds for the appeal are— (a) that the Director General made an error as to the facts, (b) that there was a material procedural error, or (c) that the Director General made some other error of law. (3) To the extent that an appeal under this section is against the amount of a financial penalty, the grounds for the appeal are— (a) that the amount of the penalty is unreasonable, (b) that there was a material procedural error, or (c) that the decision was based on a manifest material misapprehension as to the facts. (4) Where on an appeal under this section a court reduces the amount of a financial penalty, the powers of the court shall include power to make such orders as to interest on the penalty as the court considers just and equitable in all the circumstances of the case. (5) The power conferred by subsection (4) includes power to make orders as to— (a) the rates of interest which are to apply, and (b) the date from which interest is to run. (6) An appeal under this section lies to the High Court or, in Scotland, to the Court of Session. (7) Any appeal under this section to the Court of Session shall be heard in the Outer House.

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10C Annual levy

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring holders of licences under section 5 or 6 to pay an annual levy to the Commission . (2) The regulations shall, in particular, make provision for— (a) timing of payment of the levy, and (b) the amount of the levy. (3) The regulations may, in particular, make provision— (a) determining the amount of the levy by reference to a percentage of specified receipts of the holder of a licence under section 5 or 6, (b) determining the amount of the levy by reference to a percentage of specified profits of the holder of a licence under section 5 or 6, (c) providing for the determination of the amount of the levy according to a specified formula, or (d) providing for the determination of the amount of the levy in some other way. (4) Any sum due by way of levy by virtue of this section shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as if its payment were a condition of the licence under section 5 or 6. (5) The Commission shall, with the consent of the Treasury and of the Secretary of State, expend money received by way of levy for purposes related to, or by providing financial assistance for projects related to— (a) addiction to gambling, (b) other forms of harm or exploitation associated with gambling, or (c) any of the licensing objectives for the purposes of the Gambling Act 2005. (6) In subsection (5) the reference to financial assistance is a reference to grants, loans and any other form of financial assistance, which may be made or given on terms or conditions (which may include terms and conditions as to repayment with or without interest). (7) The Secretary of State may make regulations under this section only if— (a) he has made regulations under the Gambling Act 2005 requiring holders of operating licences to pay an annual levy to the Commission , and (b) he has consulted the ... Commission. (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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11 Directions to the Director General.

(1) The Director General shall in exercising his functions under sections 5 to 10A comply with any directions that he may be given by the Secretary of State. (2) Such directions may deal in particular— (a) with the matters that the Director General should take into account in deciding whether or not to grant licences; (b) with the conditions that licences should contain.

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12 Regulations as to the promotion of lotteries.

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make such provision in relation to the promotion of lotteries that form part of the National Lottery as he considers necessary or expedient. (2) Such regulations may in particular impose requirements or restrictions as to— (a) the minimum age of persons to whom or by whom tickets or chances may be sold; (b) the places, circumstances or manner in which tickets or chances may be sold or persons may be invited to buy them; (c) the information that must appear in an advertisement for a lottery; (d) the places, circumstances or manner in which signs relating to a lottery may be displayed. (3) In subsection (2) “tickets” includes any document providing evidence of a person’s claim to participate in the chances of a lottery. (4) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different areas.

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13 Contravention of regulations an offence.

(1) If any requirement or restriction imposed by regulations made under section 12 is contravened in relation to the promotion of a lottery that forms part of the National Lottery— (a) the promoter of the lottery shall be guilty of an offence, except if the contravention occurred without the consent or connivance of the promoter and the promoter exercised all due diligence to prevent such a contravention, (b) any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the promoter, or any person purporting to act in such a capacity, shall be guilty of an offence if he consented to or connived at the contravention or if the contravention was attributable to any neglect on his part, and (c) any other person who was party to the contravention shall be guilty of an offence. (2) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable— (a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both. (3) Summary proceedings in Scotland for an offence under this section may be commenced within a period of six months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the procurator fiscal to warrant proceedings came to his knowledge; but no proceedings in Scotland shall be commenced by virtue of this section more than three years after the commission of the offence. (4) For the purposes of this section, a certificate signed by or on behalf of the procurator fiscal and stating the date on which evidence sufficient in his opinion to warrant the proceedings came to his knowledge shall be conclusive evidence of that fact; and a certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed shall be taken to be so signed unless the contrary is proved.

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14 Annual report.

(1) As soon as possible after the end of every financial year, the Director General shall make a report on the exercise of his relevant functions during that year to the Secretary of State. (2) In subsection (1) “financial year” means— (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (aa) the period beginning with the date on which section 3A comes into force and ending with the next 31st March, and (b) each successive period of twelve months ending with 31st March. (2A) In subsection (1) “relevant functions” means functions conferred or imposed under or by virtue of— (a) a provision of this Act other than section 10C, (b) Part 3 of the Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004, and (c) section 6(2) of the National Lottery Act 2006. (3) The Secretary of State shall lay a copy of every report received by him under this section before Parliament. (4) Where a report is made by the ... Commission under sub-section (1) to the Scottish Ministers (by virtue of provision made under section 63 of the Scotland Act 1998), the Scottish Ministers shall lay a copy of the report before the Scottish Parliament.

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15 Power of the Secretary of State to require information.

The Director General shall provide the Secretary of State with such information relating to the National Lottery or a lottery forming part of it as the Secretary of State may direct.

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16 False representations as to the National Lottery.

(1) If a person advertising, or offering the opportunity to participate in, a lottery, competition or game of another description gives, by whatever means, a false indication that it is a lottery forming part of, or is otherwise connected with, the National Lottery, he shall be guilty of an offence. (2) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable— (a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both.

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17 Extension of powers of Horserace Totalisator Board.

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18 Control of betting on the National Lottery.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 shall be amended in accordance with subsections (6) to (8). (6) In Article 8(4) (grounds on which an application for a bookmaker’s licence must be refused) in sub-paragraph (d) after “(e)” there shall be inserted “ or in Article 17(2)(d) ”. (7) In Article 17 (renewal of bookmaker’s licence by a court)— (a) after paragraph (2)(c) there shall be inserted— ; and (d) that neither the applicant nor any employee of his has, since the licence was granted, received or negotiated a bet on the outcome of any lottery forming part of the National Lottery for the purposes of Part I of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. , and (b) after paragraph (2) there shall be inserted— (2A) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(d), the court shall disregard any bet which ought properly to have been raised by way of objection on a previous occasion when the licence was renewed. (8) In Article 27(1) (grounds on which bookmaker’s licence may be revoked) after paragraph (e) there shall be inserted— ; or (f) that the licensed bookmaker or an employee of his has, since the licence was granted, received or negotiated a bet on the outcome of any lottery forming part of the National Lottery for the purposes of Part I of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993.

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19 Restriction of enactments relating to the rehabilitation of offenders.

(1) Neither section 4(1) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 nor Article 5(1) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (exclusion of evidence and questions relating to an individual’s previous convictions) shall apply in relation to any proceedings— (a) before the Director General in respect of the grant or revocation of a licence, or (b) by way of appeal to the Secretary of State against the revocation of a licence by the Director General. (2) A conviction shall not be regarded as spent for the purposes of section 4(2) of that Act or Article 5(2) of that Order (restrictions in respect of such questions put otherwise than in proceedings) if the question is put by the Director General and the following conditions are satisfied. (3) The question must be put for the purpose of determining whether to grant or revoke a licence. (4) The question must relate to an individual— (a) who manages the business or any part of the business carried on under the licence (or who is likely to do so if the licence is granted), or (b) for whose benefit that business is carried on (or is likely to be carried on if the licence is granted). (5) When the question is asked, the person questioned must be informed that by virtue of this section all the individual’s previous convictions are to be disclosed.

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20 Interpretation of Part I.

In this Part— “the Commission” means the Gambling Commission; “contravention”, in relation to a condition or requirement, includes a failure to comply with that condition or requirement (and “contravened” is to be read accordingly); “lottery” has the same meaning as in the Gambling Act 2005; . . . “participant”, in relation to a lottery, means a person who has bought a ticket or chance in the lottery; “promote” includes conduct (and “promotion” is to be read accordingly); and any reference to a lottery forming part of the National Lottery is to be read in accordance with section 1.

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21 The National Lottery Distribution Fund.

(1) There shall be a fund maintained under the control and management of the Secretary of State and known as the National Lottery Distribution Fund. (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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22 Apportionment of money in Distribution Fund.

(1) Every sum that is paid into the Distribution Fund by virtue of section 5(6) or 10A shall be apportioned as follows. (2) So much of the sum as the Secretary of State considers appropriate shall be allocated for making payments under section 31 and held in the Distribution Fund for that purpose. (3) Of the balance— (a) 20 per cent. shall be allocated for expenditure on or connected with the arts, (b) 20 per cent. shall be allocated for expenditure on or connected with sport, (c) 20 per cent. shall be allocated for expenditure on or connected with the national heritage, and (d) 40 per cent. shall be allocated for prescribed expenditure that is— (i) charitable, or (ii) connected with health, or (iii) connected with education, or (iv) connected with the environment. (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (including, in each case, for establishing or contributing to endowments in connection with such expenditure). (3A) In subsection (3)(d) “prescribed expenditure” means expenditure of a description prescribed by order of the Secretary of State . (3B) A description of expenditure under subsection (3A) may, in particular, refer to expenditure in relation to— (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland, (e) any of the Channel Islands, or (f) the Isle of Man; and expenditure described by virtue of this subsection is referred to in this Act as “devolved expenditure”. (3C) Before making an order under subsection (3A) the Secretary of State shall consult— (a) the Big Lottery Fund, (b) the National Assembly for Wales, (c) the Scottish Ministers, (d) the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, and (e) such other persons (if any) as he thinks appropriate. (4) This section has effect subject to section 25 of the Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004.

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23 The distributing bodies.

(1) So much of any sum paid into the Distribution Fund as is allocated for expenditure on or connected with the arts shall be held in the Distribution Fund— (a) as to 69.78 per cent., for distribution by the Arts Council of England, (b) as to 8.9 per cent., for distribution by Creative Scotland, (c) as to 5 per cent., for distribution by the Arts Council of Wales, . . . (d) as to 2.8 per cent., for distribution by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland , and . . . (e) as to 13.52 per cent., for distribution by the The British Film Institute ... (f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) So much of any sum paid into the Distribution Fund as is allocated for expenditure on or connected with sport shall be held in the Distribution Fund— (a) as to 62 per cent , for distribution by the English Sports Council, (b) as to 8.1 per cent., for distribution by the Scottish Sports Council, (c) as to 4.5 per cent., for distribution by the Sports Council for Wales, and (d) as to 2.6 per cent., for distribution by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland and (e) as to 22.8” per cent ., for distribution by the United Kingdom Sports Council. (3) So much of any sum paid into the Distribution Fund as is allocated for expenditure on or connected with the national heritage shall be held in the Distribution Fund for distribution by the Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund. (4) So much of any sum paid into the Distribution Fund as is allocated under section 22(3)(d) shall be held by the Distribution Fund for distribution by the Big Lottery Fund (established under section 36A).

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24 Payments from Distribution Fund to distributing bodies.

At such times as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate, payments of such amounts as he thinks appropriate may be made to a body specified in section 23 or in an order under section 29A out of so much of any money in the Distribution Fund as is held for distribution by that body.

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25 Application of money by distributing bodies.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, a body shall distribute any money paid to it under section 24 for meeting expenditure of the relevant description mentioned in section 22(3). (1A) The manner in which a body may distribute any money paid to it under section 24 includes making or entering into arrangements for or in connection with meeting expenditure (including arrangements with respect to vouchers); and this subsection shall apply notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any enactment or instrument relating to the functions of the body. (2) A body shall not under subsection (1) distribute money for any purpose or in any manner if it does not have power to distribute money for that purpose or in that manner apart from subsection (1). (2A) A body which distributes money under subsection (1) shall have power to solicit applications from other bodies or persons for any of the money which the body so distributes, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any enactment or instrument relating to the functions of the body. (2B) In determining whether a decision of a body concerning its distribution of money under subsection (1) was unlawful, it shall be immaterial whether or not the body, or any person acting on behalf of the body, solicited an application from a body or person for such money. (2C) In determining how to distribute money in accordance with subsection (1) a body may— (a) consult any person; (b) take account of opinions expressed to it or information submitted to it. (3) A body may defray out of any money paid to it under section 24 any expenses incurred by the body in consequence of this Act. (4) The Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund may apply any money paid to them under section 24 for any purpose for which they have power to apply money under section 4 of the National Heritage Act 1980 (other expenditure out of the fund). (5) References in this section (however expressed) to the distribution of money for meeting expenditure are to be construed as including distribution of money for the purpose of establishing, or contributing to, endowments in connection with expenditure of the description concerned. (6) A reference in this section to meeting expenditure includes a reference to meeting expenditure which relates to— (a) the Isle of Man, or (b) any of the Channel Islands.

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25A Delegation by distributing bodies of their powers of distribution.

(1) A body which distributes money under subsection (1) of section 25 may appoint any other body or person to exercise on its behalf any of its functions relating to, or connected with, the distribution of money under that subsection (including its function of making decisions as to the persons to whom such distributions are to be made)— (a) in any particular case, or (b) in cases of any particular description. (2) The persons who may be appointed by a body under subsection (1) include a member, employee or committee of the body itself. (3) A body which makes an appointment under subsection (1) may defray out of any money paid to it under section 24 any expenses incurred by the appointee in consequence of the appointment. (4) Power to accept any such appointment as is mentioned in subsection (1) is conferred by this subsection on the following bodies— (a) any body which distributes money under section 25(1), (b) any charity or any charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution, (c) any body established by or under an enactment, and (d) any body established by Royal Charter. (5) A body appointed by virtue of subsection (1) to exercise a function on behalf of another may itself appoint any of its members or employees, or a committee, to exercise the function in its stead, but only if— (a) the terms of the body’s appointment by virtue of subsection (1) so permit, and (b) the body has power apart from this section to appoint a member or, as the case may be, an employee or committee of the body to exercise some or all of its functions. (6) Subject to the following provisions of this section— (a) a body which distributes money under section 25(1) may establish a committee for the purpose of exercising on behalf of the body any such function as is mentioned in subsection (1), and (b) a body falling within any paragraph of subsection (4) may establish a committee for the purpose of exercising on behalf of any body which distributes money under section 25(1) any such function as is mentioned in subsection (1). (7) A committee established under subsection (6)— (a) must consist of or include one or more members, or one or more employees, of the body establishing the committee, but (b) may include persons who are neither members nor employees of that body. (8) Any power conferred on a body by subsections (1) to (7) is so conferred— (a) to the extent that the body would not have the power apart from this section, and (b) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any enactment or instrument relating to the functions of the body. (9) In this section— “charity” means a body, or the trustees of a trust, established for charitable purposes only; “charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution” means a body, or the trustees of a trust, which is established for charitable purposes (whether or not those purposes are charitable within the meaning of any rule of law), benevolent purposes or philanthropic purposes, and which is not a charity. (10) For the purposes of this section— (a) the trustees of a trust shall be regarded as a body, and (b) any reference to a member of a body shall, in the case of a body of trustees, be taken as a reference to any of the trustees, and references to a committee shall be construed accordingly. (11) Any reference in this section to a member of a body includes a reference to the chairman or deputy chairman of (or the holder of any corresponding office in relation to) the body. (12) A body established under the law of the Isle of Man may be the subject of an appointment under this section in connection with expenditure which relates to the Isle of Man. (13) A body established under the law of any of the Channel Islands may be the subject of an appointment under this section in connection with expenditure which relates to that Island.

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25B Joint schemes for distribution of money by distributing bodies.

(1) A body which distributes money under subsection (1) of section 25 may, in accordance with the following provisions of this section, participate with one or more other such bodies in a joint scheme for the distribution of money under that subsection. (2) A body may participate in a joint scheme if the principal purposes of the joint scheme include purposes for which the body has power to distribute money under subsection (1) of section 25, notwithstanding that the body would not, apart from this section, have power to distribute money under that subsection for meeting expenditure on some of the particular projects for which money may be distributed under the scheme. (3) Money shall not, under a joint scheme, be distributed for meeting expenditure on any particular project unless the expenditure is such that— (a) at least one of the bodies participating in the joint scheme has power, acting alone, to distribute money under section 25(1) for meeting the expenditure, or (b) two or more of the bodies participating in the joint scheme, taken together, have power between them to distribute money under section 25(1) for meeting the expenditure. (4) Nothing in subsection (3) affects the liability of each body participating in a scheme in relation to the distribution of any money under section 25(1) under the scheme. (5) Schedule 3A contains supplementary provision in relation to joint schemes. (6) References in this section (however expressed) to distribution under section 25(1) of money for meeting expenditure are to be construed in accordance with section 25(5).

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25C Strategic plans for distributing bodies.

(1) If the Secretary of State instructs it do so, a body which distributes money under section 25(1) shall, in accordance with the following provisions of this section,— (a) prepare and adopt a strategic plan, or (b) review and modify any strategic plan which it has adopted, or (c) replace any strategic plan which it has adopted by preparing and adopting another. (2) In this section “strategic plan”, in the case of any body, means a statement containing the body’s policies for the distribution of the money likely to be available to it for distribution under section 25(1). (3) A strategic plan must also contain— (a) a statement of any directions given to the body by the Secretary of State ... under section 26(1) or 36E, (b) a statement of the estimate given to the body by the Secretary of State of the money likely to be available for distribution by the body under section 25(1), (c) a statement of the body’s assessment of the needs which the body has power to deal with, in whole or in part, by distributing money under section 25(1), and (d) a statement of the body’s priorities in dealing with those needs by the distribution of money under section 25(1). (4) A strategic plan must be such as to demonstrate how the body is taking into account or, as the case may be, complying with the directions mentioned in subsection (3)(a). (5) Before adopting a strategic plan, a body shall— (a) consult such other bodies as it thinks fit for the purpose of identifying the needs mentioned in subsection (3)(c) and formulating the policies to be adopted for dealing with those needs, (b) prepare a draft of the proposed plan, (c) send a copy of the draft to the Secretary of State, and (d) after consultation with the Secretary of State, make such modifications to the draft as it considers necessary or expedient. (6) Where a body adopts a strategic plan— (a) the body shall send copies of the document containing the plan to the Secretary of State, and (b) the Secretary of State shall lay a copy of the document before each House of Parliament. (7) Nothing in this section applies in relation to any body which distributes under section 25(1) money allocated under section 22(3)(e).

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25D Strategic plans for distributing bodies in or as regards Scotland

The functions of the Secretary of State– (a) under section 25C(1) shall, as regards instructions to– (i) any body specified in section 23(1) whose functions exclusively or mainly relate to the arts in Scotland; or (ii) any body specified in section 23(2) whose functions exclusively or mainly relate to sport in Scotland; and (b) under section 25C(5)(c) and (d) and (6) shall, as regards strategic plans prepared by any body other than– (i) any body specified in section 23(1) whose functions relate exclusively or mainly to the arts in any one of England, Wales or Northern Ireland; or (ii) any body specified in section 23(2) whose functions relate exclusively or mainly to sport in any one of England, Wales or Northern Ireland, be treated as exercisable in or as regards Scotland and may be exercised separately.

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25E Distribution of funds: publicity

A body which distributes money under section 25(1) may make or participate in arrangements for— (a) publishing information relating to the effect of a provision of this Act, (b) publishing information relating to the distribution of money under this Act or the expenditure of money distributed under this Act, or (c) encouraging participation in activities relating to the distribution of money under this Act.

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26 Directions to distributing bodies.

(1) A body shall comply with any directions given to it by the Secretary of State as to the matters to be taken into account in determining the persons to whom, the purposes for which and the conditions subject to which the body distributes any money under section 25(1). (2) The Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund shall comply with any directions given to them by the Secretary of State as to the matters to be taken into account in determining the purposes for which and the conditions subject to which the Trustees apply any money under section 25(4). (3) A body shall comply with any directions that the Secretary of State considers it appropriate to give the body for securing the proper management and control of money paid to the body under section 24. (3A) In exercising any power under section 25A, a body which distributes money under section 25(1) shall comply with any directions given to it by the Secretary of State. (4) Directions under subsection (3) or (3A) may in particular require a body— (a) to obtain the consent of the Secretary of State before doing anything specified, or of a description specified, in the directions; (b) to provide the Secretary of State at times specified by him with such information as he may require. (4A) Directions under subsection (3A) may in particular— (a) impose limits on the amount of money which may be distributed by a body under section 25(1) by virtue of decisions made on its behalf by bodies or persons not falling within section 25A(2), and (b) require a body, before appointing any body or person not falling within section 25A(2) to exercise on its behalf any function of making decisions concerning the distribution of money under section 25(1), to obtain the approval of the Secretary of State to its plans for making such appointments. (5) The Secretary of State shall consult a body before giving any directions to it under this section. (6) This section does not apply to the Big Lottery Fund.

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