A CITY-WIDE lottery to raise cash for local clubs and groups and with a top prize of £25,000 for residents could be launched in Worcester, the Observer can reveal.
City council chiefs on the Income Generation sub-committee will debate plans for the new online fund-raiser on Tuesday (July 10) as a way of providing potential windfalls for local causes.
If approved by full council, the city lottery would be the first of its kind in Worcestershire and the second in the Midlands after council bosses in Gloucester launched the Gloucester City Lottery last year.
A staggering £72,540 was handed out to good causes from Portsmouth’s lottery which was launched in 2017 and sold 122,001 tickets with a further £24,797 handed over in one off small grants to local causes.
In the report to councillors, officers said: “A city council lottery delivers benefits only to local causes, unlike any other provider and players can therefore be assured that the proceeds will stay in the city.
“Local organisations which could register and benefit could include clubs, societies and charities such as scouts, guides, sports clubs, drama groups, arts groups and charities supporting the vulnerable members of society.
“The Council would retain the right to refuse an organisation that it did not consider appropriate,” the report added.
Around 60 per cent of the proceeds would be donated to good causes and players could even nominate which organisation should benefit from their subscription or nominate the proceeds to go to a general pool which is distributed to organisations, according to the plans.
Should it be given the green light, city council chiefs would need a licence from the Gambling Commission for the scheme and would appoint an outside body to run the lottery online.
They believe the introduction of a new lottery would not increase gambling problems because players would have to register in advance with no ‘instant’ gratification or ‘instant reward’ to taking part.
“There will be no ‘high profile’ activity surrounding the draw although there is the opportunity to publicise winners and thereby encourage other participants as well as publicising the proceeds to approved schemes and the lottery website will contain a section providing links to gambling support organisations,” the report added.
Coun Pat Agar, sub-committee chair, said: “As a council we are committed to ensuring Worcester is a prosperous city with strong and connected communities.
“This lottery would support many charities and voluntary organisations which provide services for our residents and I hope councillors will support it.”
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