Online Lottery
The Classics Lottery
A small, friendly monthly lottery that keeps free classics talks and school visits going across the North of Scotland. Simple, transparent and run by volunteers.
Regulation and licensing
The Classics Lottery is a small society lottery under the Gambling Act 2005, promoted by The Classical Association of Scotland: Aberdeen and North of Scotland Centre (Scottish Charity No. SC049690). It is being registered with Aberdeen City Council, the licensing authority for the area where the charity's principal office is located. No tickets will be sold and no money taken until that registration is confirmed. You can register now and we will contact you before the first draw.
Key facts
| Ticket price | £1 per entry per draw. Every ticket costs the same. |
|---|---|
| Maximum entries | 5 entries per person per draw (£5 a month maximum) |
| Draw | Monthly, on the last Friday of the month at 12:00 noon (UK time) |
| Prizes | Three cash prizes from a prize fund of 40% of ticket income for that draw |
| To the charity | At least 50% of ticket income |
| Running costs | No more than 10% of ticket income |
| Your chance of winning | 3 in the total number of entries. With 500 entries, a 1 in 167 chance of any prize. |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Who can play | Residents of Great Britain only |
| Payment | Debit card or Direct Debit only. We never accept credit cards. |
| Promoter | The Classical Association of Scotland: Aberdeen and North of Scotland Centre, 42 Bon Accord Terrace, Aberdeen AB11 6DU |
Prizes
First prize
60%
of the prize fund
Second prize
25%
of the prize fund
Third prize
15%
of the prize fund
Example: if 500 entries are sold for a draw (£500), the prize fund is £200. First prize £120, second £50, third £30. The charity receives £250. Prize values are published before every draw.
Register to play
Complete this form to register for the Classics Lottery. We will check your details, confirm your age and email you a secure payment link once our registration is confirmed. We do not take any card details on this website.
Responsible play
Our commitment to safer play
Our lottery exists to support education, not to make money from anyone's losses. These are the rules we hold ourselves to.
Age limit: 18+
The law in Great Britain makes it a criminal offence for anyone under 16 to take part in a society lottery. We go further: you must be 18 or over to play the Classics Lottery, the same minimum age as The National Lottery.
- We confirm every new player's age before taking any money, using an electronic check against public records. If we cannot confirm it, we will ask for a copy of photo ID.
- Any entry from someone under 18 is void. They cannot win a prize and we refund every payment.
- We never advertise to children or use content aimed at under-18s.
- If you believe someone under 18 is playing, please email [email protected] and we will investigate.
Limits we set for you
- A maximum of 5 entries (£5) per person per draw.
- Debit card or Direct Debit only. Credit cards are never accepted, so you cannot play with borrowed money.
- One draw a month. No instant-win games, no scratchcards, no rollovers, no "bonus" offers.
- You can set a lower personal limit at any time. Lowering a limit takes effect immediately. Raising it takes effect after a 7-day cooling-off period.
Take a break or self-exclude
If you want to stop playing, email [email protected] with the subject "Self-exclusion".
- Choose 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. During that time we will not accept any entries from you or send you any lottery marketing.
- Self-exclusion cannot be cancelled before it ends. After it ends, you must contact us and wait 24 hours before you can play again.
- Any entries already paid for future draws are refunded.
Please note: GAMSTOP, the national online self-exclusion scheme, does not cover small society draw lotteries like ours. That is why we run our own self-exclusion. To block gambling more widely, register with GAMSTOP as well, install free blocking software such as Gamban or BetBlocker, and switch on the gambling block offered by many UK banks in their apps.
Signs gambling may be a problem
- Spending more money or time than you meant to
- Trying to win back money you have lost
- Borrowing money, or missing bills, to gamble
- Hiding your gambling from family or friends
- Feeling anxious, low or irritable about gambling
- Gambling to escape problems or difficult feelings
If any of these sound familiar, please pause and talk to someone. Free, confidential help is available below, at any time.
Free, confidential support
| Service | What they offer | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Gambling Helpline (GamCare) | Free, confidential advice for anyone affected by gambling in Great Britain. Phone, live chat and WhatsApp, 24 hours a day, every day. | 0808 8020 133 | gamcare.org.uk |
| GamCare Scotland | Free treatment and support sessions in Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands. Email [email protected]. | 0131 261 5220 | gamcare.org.uk |
| Gamblers Anonymous Scotland | Peer support meetings every night across Scotland, plus a helpline and webchat run by people in recovery. | 0370 050 8881 | gascotland.org |
| Gam-Anon Scotland | Support for partners, family and friends of someone with a gambling problem. | 0370 050 8881 | gamanonscotland.org |
| NHS inform | Scotland's health information service, with self-help guidance on problem gambling. | 0800 22 44 88 | nhsinform.scot |
| Breathing Space | Free, confidential phone line for anyone in Scotland feeling low, anxious or stressed. | 0800 83 85 87 | breathingspace.scot |
| Samaritans | Emotional support at any time of day or night, for anyone who is struggling. | 116 123 | samaritans.org |
| National Debtline | Free, independent debt advice for people in England, Wales and Scotland. | 0808 808 4000 | nationaldebtline.org |
| Gordon Moody | Residential and online treatment for people severely affected by gambling. | 01384 241292 | gordonmoody.org.uk |
Worried about someone else?
Gambling harm affects families and friends too. The National Gambling Helpline, Gam-Anon Scotland and GamCare Scotland all support people affected by another person's gambling. You do not need their permission to ask for help for yourself.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with how our lottery is run, email [email protected]. We will acknowledge your complaint within 5 working days and give a full response within 8 weeks. You can also contact Aberdeen City Council's licensing team or the Gambling Commission.
Lottery questions
How are winners chosen?
Winning numbers are chosen by a random number generator, in front of at least two trustees or volunteers who are not playing in that draw. Every paid entry has an equal chance.
How will I know if I have won?
We email every winner within 2 working days of the draw. Results are also published on our Winners & Results page.
Do I need to claim my prize?
No. Prizes are paid automatically by bank transfer within 14 days, once we have confirmed your identity and age.
How do I cancel?
Email [email protected] at any time. Your entries stop before the next draw and you will not be charged again.
Can I play from outside Great Britain?
No. Our lottery is open to residents of Great Britain only.