The UK Gambling Commission has published new research into how consumers engage with illegal lotteries and raffles run by individuals on social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. The regulator’s findings shed light on the scale and nature of unlicensed gambling activity taking place outside the regulated market.
The research focuses on unlicensed lotteries and raffles that are promoted and conducted by individuals through social media channels. These activities operate without the necessary permissions from the Gambling Commission, which is responsible for licensing and regulating gambling in Great Britain. The regulator has highlighted the risks associated with such unlicensed operations, including the lack of consumer protections and the potential for fraud.
Regulators across the sector have increasingly turned their attention to gambling-like activity on social media, which can blur the line between harmless competitions and illegal betting. In the UK, the Gambling Act 2005 requires most forms of gambling, including lotteries and raffles, to be licensed unless they fall within specific exemptions. Social media platforms have become a common venue for individuals to run informal draws, often without realising they are breaking the law.
For players, the key takeaway is that participating in unlicensed lotteries or raffles on social media means you have no legal protection. If something goes wrong—such as the organiser disappearing with the money or rigging the draw—you have no recourse through the Gambling Commission or any other authority. Money you spend on these activities is not covered by the safeguards that apply to licensed operators, such as dispute resolution and responsible gambling measures.
Going forward, the Gambling Commission is likely to use this research to inform its enforcement priorities and possibly to work with social media platforms to curb illegal gambling content. Players should stick to licensed operators if they want to take part in lotteries or raffles, and be wary of any draw that appears on social media without clear licensing information.