Start a retail business - compliance essentials
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UK Act of Parliament
1993
United Kingdom
National Lottery etc Act 1993
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
11 compliance obligations, 3 practical guides · 2 journeys
Penalty landscape
4 of 11 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 7 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Licence Holder 2
- Any Person 1
- Director or Officer 1
Plus 7 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Run a retail business
- 1 step
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
2 guidesMentioned in related content
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Licence Holders also bound by 50 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 50 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 11 duties
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 7 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 5 duties
- Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 2018 5 duties
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 75 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 63 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 46 duties
- CCBSA 2014 2014 22 duties
- CAICEA 2004 2004 18 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — AUTHORISATION AND REGULATION OF THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
Overriding duties of the Secretary of State and Director General.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State and Regulator must ensure National Lottery integrity Crown / Minister / Government department
Licences under sections 5 and 6: further provisions.
2 years imprisonment- Comply with National Lottery licence conditions and inspection requests Licence Holder
Revocation of licences.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Gambling Commission must revoke National Lottery licences in specific cases Statutory regulator
Directions to the Director General.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must provide directions to the Gambling Commission Crown / Minister / Government department
Contravention of regulations an offence.
2 years imprisonment- Promote a National Lottery lottery in breach of regulations Director or Officer
Power of the Secretary of State to require information.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Director General must provide National Lottery information to the Secretary of State Statutory regulator
False representations as to the National Lottery.
2 years imprisonment- Make false claim that a lottery is part of the National Lottery Any Person
Browse 21 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
The National Lottery.
Legality of lotteries forming part of the National Lottery.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
The Gambling Commission.
Consultation with Gambling Commission
Disclosure of information
Wrongful disclosure
Licensing of a person to run the National Lottery.
Licensing of persons to promote lotteries.
Annual fee
Variation of conditions in licences.
Enforcement of conditions in licences.
Financial penalties for breach of conditions in licences.
Appeals against financial penalties.
Annual levy
Regulations as to the promotion of lotteries.
Annual report.
Extension of powers of Horserace Totalisator Board.
Control of betting on the National Lottery.
Restriction of enactments relating to the rehabilitation of offenders.
Interpretation of Part I.
Part II — DISTRIBUTION OF THE NET PROCEEDS OF THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
Payments from Distribution Fund in respect of expenses.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must fund Gambling Commission and National Lottery expenses Crown / Minister / Government department
Accounts of the Secretary of State and National Debt Commissioners.
- Allow the National Audit Office to inspect your National Lottery records Licence Holder
Annual reports by distributing bodies ....
2 years imprisonmentOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- National Lottery distributing bodies must submit annual reports Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 38 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
The National Lottery Distribution Fund.
Apportionment of money in Distribution Fund.
The distributing bodies.
Payments from Distribution Fund to distributing bodies.
Application of money by distributing bodies.
Delegation by distributing bodies of their powers of distribution.
Joint schemes for distribution of money by distributing bodies.
Strategic plans for distributing bodies.
Strategic plans for distributing bodies in or as regards Scotland
Distribution of funds: publicity
Directions to distributing bodies.
Directions to distributing bodies in or as regards Scotland
Power to prohibit distribution in certain cases.
Power to amend section 22.
Power to amend section 23.
Reallocation of funds
Winding up of fund allocated under section 22(3)(e).
Investment of Distribution Fund.
Accounts of distributing bodies other than the Big Lottery Fund.
Amendment of the National Heritage Act 1980.
The Fund
Power to distribute funds
Non-lottery funds
Power to give advice
Directions
The National Lottery Charities Board.
Grants to charities etc.
Accounts.
The Millennium Commission.
Grants in respect of projects.
Annual report.
Accounts.
The New Opportunities Fund.
Functions of the New Opportunities Fund.
Provisions supplemental to section 43B.
Directions to New Opportunities Fund in or as regards Scotland
Accounts.
Interpretation of Part II.
Part III — MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS RELATING TO LOTTERIES
Browse 11 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Interpretation of Part III.
Importation and exportation restrictions.
Private lotteries.
Registration of societies.
Registration of lottery schemes.
Lottery managers.
Frequency of lotteries.
Rules for lotteries.
Offences.
Powers of the Secretary of State to vary monetary limits and to prescribe or vary fees.
Interpretation of the 1976 Act.
Part IV — POOL BETTING
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part V — SUPPLEMENTARY
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Orders and regulations.
Directions.
Expenses.
Northern Ireland
Repeals.
Commencement.
Short title.
Schedules
The Gambling Commission
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Gambling Commission must provide written reasons for licensing decisions Statutory regulator
Browse 13 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
LEGALITY ETC. OF LOTTERIES FORMING PART OF THE NATIONAL LOTTERY
Tenure of office
AMENDMENT OF THE NATIONAL HERITAGE ACT 1980 (C.17)
REGISTRATION OF SOCIETIES
REPEALS
REVOCATION OF LICENCES
Joint schemes: supplementary provisions
THE BIG LOTTERY FUND
THE NATIONAL LOTTERY CHARITIES BOARD
THE MILLENNIUM COMMISSION
The New Opportunities Fund
REGISTRATION OF SCHEMES: AMENDMENT OF SCHEDULE 2 TO THE 1976 ACT
SCHEDULE TO BE INSERTED IN THE 1976 ACT AFTER SCHEDULE 2
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Innovation Funding Service portal (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- BFI Film Fund (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Arts Council England Project Grants (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Northern Ireland Screen funding (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Ffilm Cymru Wales funding (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Screen Scotland funding programmes (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Apply for innovation funding (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Regulates gambling in Great Britain. Issues operating and premises licences. Protects vulnerable people and ensures fair gambling.
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.