Public Urges National Lottery to Highlight Gambling Support Resources

Though widely seen as a safer form of gambling, the National Lottery isn’t risk-free. Over 600,000 individuals in the UK are currently grappling with gambling-related challenges. One former gambler shared, “Even after I self-excluded from most forms of gambling, I couldn’t escape the lottery. During early recovery, I spent £450 on scratch cards—it was still too accessible.”

With millions participating weekly, the National Lottery reaches a wider demographic than more regulated forms such as online casinos or sports betting. Its presence in everyday retail settings makes it uniquely pervasive and potentially problematic for those vulnerable to addiction.

Despite a 2022 call from the House of Commons Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee to include gambling support information on lottery materials, no action has been taken as of 2025. In contrast, many charity lotteries—regulated by the UK Gambling Commission—already follow strict signposting guidelines.

GambleAware’s 2024 Annual Treatment and Support Survey offers revealing insights:

• 84% of the public recognize the National Lottery as a form of gambling
• 46% reject the idea that lottery products are harmless
• 74% believe support services should be visible on National Lottery materials
• 69% think advertising should also include references to help services

Andy Boucher, Chair of Trustees at GambleAware, underscored the importance of this issue:

“The National Lottery was created to support good causes in the community. That mission should extend to protecting its players.” – “We’re calling for basic measures—already standard for charity lotteries—such as including contact information for gambling help services on tickets and in advertisements. If the National Lottery is truly committed to doing good, it should lead by example in promoting safer gambling.”

While casinos and online platforms are mandated to provide access to self-exclusion tools and responsible gambling information, the National Lottery remains a glaring exception. Whether it will evolve in response to public pressure remains to be seen—but advocates believe now is the time to prioritize player welfare in a meaningful way.