The Gambling Commission has confirmed a set of changes that will affect all licensed operators, including society lotteries run by charities and non‑profit organisations. These changes cover financial key event reporting and updates to the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) following new consumer legislation.

None of this is unexpected, but it does mean charities operating lotteries should start preparing now, particularly where governance, funding or group arrangements are not completely straightforward.

Financial key event reporting – more detail, earlier visibility

From 19 March 2026, the Gambling Commission is strengthening its rules on financial key event reporting.

Charity lottery licensees are already required to notify the Commission about changes to ownership, control and funding. The revised rules reflect the fact that many licensed operators now sit within more complex charitable and group structures. This can include connected charities, trading subsidiaries, shared reserves, loans, guarantees or other financial support arrangements.

The Commission is clear about its aim: it wants a better understanding of who ultimately controls the licensed entity and how it is funded.

This is particularly relevant for charities because many perfectly reasonable arrangements can still be reportable. Changes agreed by trustees, internal restructuring, new funding arrangements or support from connected organisations may all trigger a key event. Problems tend to arise not because the arrangements are inappropriate, but because they are not reported correctly or at the right time.

This is an area where trustee and senior management understanding is critical. Our trustee and senior management compliance training focuses specifically on financial key events, explaining in plain English what needs to be reported and why. Many charities also ask us to carry out an independent compliance audit to sense‑check existing governance and financial arrangements before the new requirements take effect.

Consumer legislation changes and the LCCP

The second set of changes relates to consumer protection law. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 replaces the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. As a result, the Gambling Commission has updated the LCCP to remove references to legislation that no longer applies and replace them with references to the new Act.

These changes come into force on 6 April 2026, although some practical elements depend on further action by the Department for Business and Trade.

For charity lotteries, this is about ensuring that player‑facing materials remain clear, fair and transparent. Marketing messages, terms and conditions, and player communications all need to align with current consumer law. Complaints handling will also remain under scrutiny as alternative dispute resolution arrangements change.

This is a sensible time to review how your lottery presents itself to players. Our LCCP and consumer compliance training is designed specifically for charities and lottery teams, and focuses on practical examples rather than legal theory. Where charities want reassurance, a targeted compliance audit can identify gaps in websites, terms and conditions and complaints processes before they attract regulatory attention.

The Commission’s position

The Gambling Commission has been clear that these updates are about keeping regulation aligned with modern organisational structures and current consumer law, rather than adding unnecessary burden.

Tim Miller, Executive Director for Research and Policy at the Gambling Commission, highlighted that ownership and funding arrangements are not always straightforward. The revised financial key event reporting requirements are intended to give the Commission better visibility, while recognising how licensed charities actually operate.

Final thoughts

For most charity‑run society lotteries, these changes are manageable, but they do require planning. If you hold a Remote Society Lottery Licence, a Non‑remote Society Lottery Licence, or both, early 2026 is the right time to review governance and funding arrangements, refresh key event reporting processes and check that consumer‑facing materials remain compliant.

Independent compliance support can make this much easier. A structured audit provides an external view of risk and readiness, while tailored training ensures trustees and staff understand their responsibilities and can identify issues before they become regulatory problems.

If you would like to discuss:

• trustee or senior management compliance training
• a society lottery compliance audit
• preparing for regulatory changes

you can get in touch to arrange an initial, no‑obligation conversation.