Hillary Clinton: NI Should Update Lottery Laws
Hillary Clinton has called for lottery law changes in Northern Ireland to allow charities to raise much-needed money.
Key Facts:
- NI is considering the Private Members Lotteries for Communities Bill, tabled by Alliance assembly member Sian Mulholland
- Former US secretary of state Clinton is backing the changes
- She says updating the rules could bring new funding into Northern Ireland’s civil society
- Allwyn, the company that operates the National Lottery in Northern Ireland, is against the move
The former US secretary of state and presidential candidate is also the chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast.
Clinton is supporting the Private Members Lotteries for Communities Bill, which was recently tabled by Alliance assembly member Sian Mulholland.
She has recorded a video message to be played at a People’s Postcode Lottery reception in Stormont. In the video, Clinton explains why she and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, are backing the move.
She said: “Through our visits to Northern Ireland over the years, we know how vital the charity sector and civil society are. When we heard that the People’s Postcode Lottery might come to Northern Ireland, we wanted to lend our voices in support.”
How Does The People’s Postcode Lottery Work?
The People’s Postcode Lottery supports the proposed changes to the lottery’s rules in Northern Ireland.
To join the subscription-based lottery service, players pay at least £12.25 per month to play for cash prizes, with at least 30% of the ticket price going to charities.
According to the director of public affairs at the People’s Postcode Lottery, Malcolm Fleming, there is “huge untapped potential” for charity fundraising in Northern Ireland.
The National Lottery is permitted in Northern Ireland as it runs under a different legislative framework, but other types of lotteries are not allowed.
But the current laws in the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order date all the way back to 1985, so there are calls for them to be updated.
Opposition To Changes
Allwyn UK, which took over running the National Lottery from Camelot, has spoken out against the proposals.
According to the company, there should be caution against introducing “industrial-scale society lotteries” in Northern Ireland.
Allwyn – which recorded revenues of €2,143.0 million in the third quarter of 2024 – wants to protect its position in the market.
And the company argued there could be a £5.4 million annual loss to Northern Ireland’s purse and National Lottery good causes in the next five years if the change was to be brought in.
Tim Cairns from the Christian charity CARE for NI also wants tighter regulation for the industry.
He said: “While society lotteries such as the People’s Postcode Lottery are at the lower end of the scale in causing harm, politicians in Northern Ireland are sending out a signal that the gambling industry takes precedence over those who are harmed by its products.”
The consultation period for the Private Members Lotteries for Communities Bill will run until the end of July.
