Play the lottery

Safer gambling

You must be 18 or over to play. The County Lottery is a way to support girls and young women, not a way to make money.

Need to talk now? National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133. Free, confidential, 24 hours a day.

You must be 18 or over to play

The Gambling Act 2005 allows society lotteries to sell tickets to people aged 16 and over. We have chosen a higher minimum age of 18. Many of the girls and young women we support are under 18, and we never want any of them to feel that gambling is part of Guiding.

We treat any attempt by someone under 18 to play very seriously: their tickets are voided and their money refunded. If you think someone under 18 is playing, please tell us at [email protected].

The lottery is not a way to solve money problems

The chance of winning any prize in a draw is small, and most tickets do not win. Please only play with money you can afford to lose, and never play to pay bills, clear debts or win back money you have spent. If you are worried about money, free advice is listed below.

Our commitments

Age checks

We verify every player’s age electronically before their first draw, and again before paying a prize. If we cannot confirm you are 18 or over, your tickets are not entered and your money is refunded.

Built-in spending limit

No one can buy more than 10 tickets (£10) per draw. You can set a lower weekly limit of £1, £2 or £5. Lower limits apply at once; higher limits only after 7 days.

Debit cards only

We do not accept credit cards, so no one can play with borrowed money.

Breaks and self-exclusion

Take a 6-week break, or self-exclude for 6 months to 5 years. We act on your request within one working day and refund any unplayed draws.

Trained volunteers

Everyone who helps run the Lottery completes safer gambling awareness training, knows how to spot signs of harm, and knows where to signpost players for help.

Protecting young people

We never market the Lottery to under-18s, never use children or Girlguiding members under 18 to sell or promote tickets, and never place adverts in materials aimed at young members. Girlguiding members who are under 18 must never be encouraged to play.

We follow the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising (CAP Code) rules on lottery advertising and review this policy every year. Next review: October 2027.

Tips for playing safely

  • Decide how much you can afford before you play, and stick to it.
  • Think of the cost of a ticket as a donation, not an investment.
  • Never borrow money, use savings meant for something else, or sell things to play.
  • Do not chase losses. Playing more will not make a win more likely.
  • Do not play when you are upset, stressed, lonely or have been drinking.
  • Balance gambling with other activities, and take regular breaks.
  • Keep track of what you spend. Check your bank statement each month.
  • Talk to someone you trust if gambling stops being fun.

Is gambling becoming a problem?

Gambling can affect anyone. Ask yourself honestly whether, in the last 12 months, any of these apply to you:

  • You have spent more on gambling than you could really afford.
  • You have needed to gamble with larger amounts to get the same feeling.
  • You have gone back another day to try to win back money you lost.
  • You have borrowed money or sold something to gamble.
  • You have felt you might have a problem with gambling.
  • Gambling has caused you stress, anxiety or health problems.
  • Other people have criticised your gambling, even if you thought they were wrong.
  • Gambling has caused money problems for you or your household.
  • You have felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you do.
  • You hide your gambling, or lie about how much you spend.

If you answered yes to any of these, it is worth talking to someone. Free, confidential support is available 24 hours a day on 0808 8020 133, and you can take a fuller self-assessment on GambleAware.

Set a limit, take a break or close your account

  1. Set or lower a spending limit

    Choose a weekly limit when you register, or email [email protected] with the subject “Limit”. Lower limits apply immediately. Higher limits apply after 7 days.

  2. Take a 6-week break

    Email with the subject “Break”. We stop all ticket purchases and marketing for 6 weeks, then restart only if you confirm.

  3. Self-exclude

    Email with the subject “Self-exclusion” and tell us how long: from 6 months up to 5 years. We close your account within one working day, refund any unplayed draws, stop all marketing and will not knowingly accept a new account from you during that time. Self-exclusion cannot be cancelled early.

  4. Close your account

    Email with the subject “Close account”. We cancel your subscription and refund any unplayed draws.

You can also write to the County Lottery Promoter at Old Third, Tullibardine, Auchterarder, Perthshire, PH3 1NJ. Because our lottery is not covered by GAMSTOP, please contact us directly as well as registering with GAMSTOP if you want to exclude yourself from all gambling.

Help and support

All of these services are free unless stated, and independent of us. Links open in a new tab.

Gambling support and treatment

National Gambling Helpline (GamCare)

0808 8020 133

Free from UK landlines and mobiles. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Free, confidential advice and support for anyone affected by gambling, including family and friends. Also available by live chat and WhatsApp. Advisers can refer you to free local treatment.

gamcare.org.uk

RCA Trust (Scotland)

Free one-to-one counselling, group work and family support for people in Scotland affected by gambling harms. Support is available by phone, online and face to face.

rcatrust.org.uk

Free treatment across Great Britain is provided through the National Gambling Support Network and the NHS. The National Gambling Helpline can refer you to services near Perth, Kinross and Clackmannanshire.

For families, friends and carers

Gambling harm affects the people around a gambler too. If you are worried about someone, you can call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 yourself, for advice on how to talk to them and how to protect your own finances and wellbeing.

Blocking tools

GAMSTOP

Free self-exclusion from all online gambling websites and apps licensed in Great Britain for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Our small society lottery is not part of GAMSTOP, so please also self-exclude with us directly.

gamstop.co.uk

Bank gambling blocks

Most UK banks, including Monzo, Starling, Barclays, Lloyds, Halifax, NatWest, Santander, HSBC and Nationwide, let you block gambling payments on your debit card in their app. Some add a delay before the block can be removed.

Money and debt advice

Citizens Advice Scotland

Free advice on money, benefits and debt from local bureaux across Scotland, including Perth and Alloa.

cas.org.uk

Mental health and wellbeing

Regulation and information

Perth & Kinross Council

The licensing authority that registers our small society lottery and receives our lottery returns.

pkc.gov.uk

If you are in crisis

If you feel unable to keep yourself safe, or someone’s life is at risk, call 999 or go to A&E. You can call Samaritans free on 116 123 at any time.

Play responsibly

You must be 18 or over to play the Girlguiding Tay and Ochils County Lottery. Lottery play should be fun and never a way to make money. Only spend what you can afford. If gambling is causing you or someone you know harm, free and confidential help is available.

Tickets cannot be sold to anyone under 18. We may ask for proof of age before paying a prize.

The Girlguiding Tay and Ochils County Lottery is a small society lottery under Schedule 11 of the Gambling Act 2005, promoted on behalf of Girlguiding Tay and Ochils (Scottish charity SC002886) and registered with Perth & Kinross Council, the licensing authority for the area where the society’s principal office is located.