Hillary Clinton released a video message supporting the proposed legislative amendment to the Northern Ireland Charity Lottery Law. The message was released at the "People's Postcode Lottery" event held in Stormont.
Previously, Alliance Party MP Sian Mulholland launched a public consultation on the Community Lottery Bill, which aims to revise existing legislation to allow larger-scale charity lotteries to operate in Northern Ireland.
Malcolm Fleming, Director of Public Affairs for the People's Postcode Lottery, pointed out that current restrictions limit fundraising potential.
However, Allwyn UK, the operator of the National Lottery in Northern Ireland, noted that allowing larger social lotteries could lead to economic losses for National Lottery-funded causes. Their research indicates that if changes are made, funding could decrease by £5.4 million ($7 million) per year over five years.
Mulholland stated that UK studies show that large social lotteries do not significantly affect participation in the National Lottery.
The current lottery and gambling laws in Northern Ireland are contained in the 1985 Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order, which limits the size and pricing of charity lotteries. The law does not comprehensively address online gambling issues, nor does it require the industry to donate to support problem gambling.
The People's Postcode Lottery donates at least 30% of lottery sales to charitable organizations.
This consultation aims to gather public opinions on the potential benefits and risks of expanding the charity lottery business.
The lottery framework in Northern Ireland differs from that of the UK, limiting certain types of lotteries. The most recent legislative update on gambling in Northern Ireland was in 2022, focusing on the operating hours of betting shops and bingo halls.
Hillary stated, "Through our visits to Northern Ireland over the years, we know how important charitable causes and civil society are."
