National lotteries like the United Kingdom’s allow citizens to participate in raising funds for community causes in return for the opportunity to win cash prizes. The focus, however, tends to be on the winnings rather than the giving. Take a moment to learn who is benefiting from the UK National Lottery.

28 per cent off all the money that goes into the lottery is given away to charities, totaling over 22 billion pounds so far. Most people in the United Kingdom live close to a lottery-funded amenity. Those who are chosen to receive lottery money must serve a charitable or socially beneficial function. The biggest contributor among UK lotteries is the Big Lottery Fund. It distributes most of the money raised by the lottery. There are many beneficial projects funded by the Big Lottery Fund in the fields of education, health, the environment and many others.

In addition, Good Causes have three specific categories: arts, sports and heritage. Each of these categories receives 16.67% of the Good Causes funds.

Granted by 4 national councils along with the 2 film councils, cost given here are for projects in both arts and cinema. This is like the grant to the Yorkshire Film Archive to improve the ease of access to the amateur and professional video over the internet.

The lottery distribution entities, five in number, and the Big Lottery Fund disburse the funds to the sport category. Expenses for purchase of land, building and equipment and construction are met from the grant funds. Local community needs are fulfilled by these projects and it is also intention that the source of funding cannot be only from the lottery. The Inclusive Fitness Initiative is a project devised with this intention and is responsible for making facilities and services available to the many disables persons.

Thousands of heritage projects have been funded by the Heritage lottery fund since’94. All-in-all, the fund has granted more than 39 billion. The preservation of United Kingdom heritage is the focus of these projects. This is done through many venues including natural heritage, museums, buildings, language or tradition. In Wales, The Archives Network was awarded 365,000. They used this to collect historic manuscripts, records and archives. These documents came from thirteen local governments, some universities and national institutions. They were put into an online site.

Go to the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport fo a total list of projects that are funded by the lottery.

There are two problems associated with a lottery that goes to a charitable cause. Opponents say masking it as a charity instead of gambling is a gimmick to get more people to play. While a good cause truly is a great marketing message, the money really does go to good causes.

Tom Martens is the marketing director for UKlotterytickets.co.za. South Arica’s primary portal to the UK Lottery.

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