Harrogate Council moots ‘community lottery’ plans

Harrogate Council is considering plans to sell lottery tickets to raise cash for community causes.

Tickets for the weekly online draw would cost £1 with the winner getting 20% of the profits from total sales, BBC News reported.

At least 60% of proceeds would go towards voluntary or community-based organisations, the council said.

The authority said it would enable it to help local projects that were struggling to survive because of government funding cuts.

The Gambling Commission said 19 authorities currently hold licences to run lotteries, although they may not yet be up and running.

If approved by Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet, the lottery could be launched by spring, with the first draw taking place in July.