North Devon lottery could be on the way

North Devon is to join the 140 councils in the UK that have established local lotteries to raise funds for good causes.

Residents who buy tickets will be helping cash-strapped charities and organisations as 50 per cent of the £1 fee goes to them.

Prize money accounts for 20 per cent, with ticket holders in with a chance of winning £25,000.

Twenty per cent of the ticket price goes to external lottery managers Gatherwell, with 10 per cent held in a fund for council costs, with surplus given to charity at the end of the year.

Exeter launched its lottery last month, and now one could be on the way in North Devon.

The district council’s strategy and resources committee supported a scheme after hearing between £23,000 and £46,000 could be given to charity in a year. But some councillors are concerned that it encourages gambling.

Set-up costs to the council to employ a lottery manager would be £7,200, whereas establishing an in-house lottery would be in the region of £80,000 to £100,000. Any financial risk, if the lottery isn’t successful, would be borne by council taxpayers.

Good causes will have to sign up to be part of the lottery and provide services that benefit people in North Devon. They will have to be a registered charity, a constituted group or community interest company (CIC).

Cllr David Clayton (Lib Dem, Barnstaple with Westacott) said: “It is gambling and can cause addiction. I am not going to vote against it as I realise it will bring money in, but it may cause problems for some.”

Cllr Helen Walker (Lib Dem, Bickington) said: “The application process when applying for funding is a minefield. You almost have to employ someone to do the bid. This is an opportunity for very small and very well used charities to raise money.”

The committee recommended the full council approves the lottery, which could be up and running early part next year.