🎲 Actionaid

ActionAid: UK-licensed society lottery operator and charitable fundraiser

ActionAid is a UK charity that also operates a regulated society lottery to raise funds for its mission to support women and girls living in poverty worldwide. Incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee in 1977, ActionAid’s registered head office is at 33–39 Bowling Green Lane, Farringdon, London, EC1R 0BJ. While the organisation is best known for its humanitarian and development work, its lottery is a compliant, UK-licensed form of gambling designed specifically for charitable fundraising and overseen by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).

On the UKGC public register, ActionAid appears under account number 6025 with an active status. This listing confirms that the charity is authorised to conduct regulated lottery activities, both in-person and online, in Great Britain. Importantly, ActionAid is not a commercial gambling company; the lottery is a means to generate predictable, transparent income for non-commercial purposes in line with the Gambling Act 2005 and UKGC requirements.

Company overview and history

Founded in the 1970s and incorporated in the UK in 1977, ActionAid has decades of experience delivering programmes focused on women’s and girls’ rights, education, economic justice, and humanitarian response. Its UK entity operates alongside a wider international federation, with the UK arm responsible for fundraising, advocacy, and public engagement. The society lottery complements donations, major gifts, and institutional funding by offering supporters an engaging, low-stakes way to contribute regularly to the charity’s work.

Because ActionAid is a charity registered in England and Wales, it is subject to charity law, Companies House reporting, and the independent oversight of its trustees. When it operates lottery activity, it must also comply with the licence conditions and codes of practice applicable to society lotteries issued by the UK Gambling Commission.

UK Gambling Commission licensing

Active UKGC account and licence categories

ActionAid appears on the UKGC register as an active operator under account number 6025. The register shows society lottery permissions, including remote (online) and non-remote (offline) activity. Society lotteries are specifically designed for non-commercial bodies such as charities, sports clubs, and community organisations, enabling them to raise funds under strict regulatory controls. Readers should refer to the UKGC public register for the most up-to-date licence types and conditions applicable to account 6025.

What a society lottery licence means

A society lottery licence permits ActionAid to run prize draws where proceeds go toward its charitable purposes, subject to statutory limits, fair and open rules, clear prize structures, and robust player protections. The licence framework ensures transparency around how funds are raised and distributed, and that lottery operations are kept free from crime, conducted fairly, and do not harm vulnerable persons.

Operated websites and brand

ActionAid runs its lottery under the “ActionAid Lottery” brand via its official UK web presence, supporting both information and online entry for eligible players. The organisation operates one domain, actionaid.org.uk, where supporters can find details about the lottery, terms and conditions, social responsibility policies, and how proceeds support the charity’s programmes. The brand positioning emphasises that this is a charity lottery rather than a casino or bingo product, aligning with the requirements of society lotteries in Great Britain.

Occasional references online to “Actionaid casinos,” “Actionaid casino sites,” or “Actionaid bingo sites” are a misnomer; ActionAid does not offer casino, bingo, or sportsbook products. Its UKGC permissions relate to society lottery activity only, delivered in a responsible, compliant manner to further charitable objectives.

Regulatory compliance and governance

ActionAid’s lottery operations are governed by the UKGC Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), which cover areas such as fair and open terms, marketing standards, financial probity, and safer gambling. As a charity, ActionAid also embeds charity governance standards, trustee oversight, and annual reporting into its controls environment, enhancing accountability for how lottery proceeds are used and reported.

Key areas of ongoing compliance include maintaining accurate and accessible lottery rules, ensuring transparent prize allocation and draw processes, preventing underage participation through age verification controls, and implementing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures proportionate to the nature and scale of lottery transactions. The UKGC public register should be consulted for any updates to licence status or regulatory actions concerning account number 6025.

Player safety and responsible gambling measures

As a UK-licensed society lottery operator, ActionAid implements safer gambling measures consistent with the LCCP and relevant guidance for lotteries. These measures typically include eligibility checks to prevent underage play, clear information on how the lottery works and the odds of winning, prominent display of terms and conditions, and signposting to support for anyone concerned about gambling. Players can expect access to tools that help them stay in control, such as options to pause participation, set limits, or request self-exclusion in line with applicable rules for society lotteries.

Marketing and communications for the ActionAid Lottery are designed to be socially responsible, avoiding targeting at-risk groups and ensuring that messaging does not misrepresent the nature of prizes or the role of chance. Financial stewardship is integral: proceeds are allocated in accordance with statutory requirements for society lotteries, and the balance between prizes, expenses, and charitable returns is explained to participants.

Technology and software for online lottery

For its online lottery, ActionAid relies on technology designed for regulated charity lotteries. Common features of such systems include secure account registration and age verification workflows, PCI DSS-compliant payment processing, encrypted data handling, and transparent, auditable draw mechanisms. Random number generation and draw integrity are critical; reputable lottery platforms incorporate independently tested randomisation and documented procedures for drawing and verifying results.

The user experience is optimised for clarity and accessibility, making it straightforward to understand entry costs, draw schedules, prizes, and responsible play information across desktop and mobile devices. Back-office controls help the operator monitor participation, handle customer service queries, track proceeds and prize payouts, and ensure timely reporting. Compliance tooling typically supports record-keeping for LCCP, data protection under UK GDPR, and adherence to direct marketing rules, with opt-in preferences and unsubscribe controls built in.

How the ActionAid Lottery differs from casino or bingo products

Unlike casino or bingo websites, which offer a wide portfolio of instant-play games, the ActionAid Lottery is a society lottery with scheduled draws, pre-defined prize structures, and a clear charitable purpose. This distinction matters for players seeking regulated, low-stakes participation where a significant portion of proceeds helps fund programmes for women and girls. If you encounter phrases like “Actionaid casinos,” “Actionaid casino sites,” or “Actionaid bingo sites,” understand that ActionAid’s gambling permissions and activities are narrowly and specifically focused on a UK-regulated charity lottery.

Conclusion

ActionAid’s UK society lottery provides a compliant, transparent way for supporters to contribute to the charity’s mission while enjoying the chance to win prizes. With an active UKGC account (6025), rigorous governance as a UK charity, and a focus on player safety and social responsibility, the ActionAid Lottery exemplifies how non-commercial societies can use regulated gambling to raise funds ethically. For the latest details on licence types, rules, and responsible play policies, consult ActionAid’s official materials and the UK Gambling Commission’s public register, and always play in a way that is right for your circumstances.