Hillary Clinton Supports Proposed Charity Lottery Reform Northern Ireland

Hillary Clinton has publicly supported proposed changes to Northern Ireland’s charity lottery laws that would allow larger society lotteries, such as the People’s Postcode Lottery, to operate in the region, potentially bringing vital new funding to local civil society organizations. The Lotteries for Communities Bill, introduced by Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland, seeks to amend existing legislation which currently restricts charity lotteries to small-scale operations, thereby limiting fundraising potential. Clinton highlighted the importance of the charity sector in Northern Ireland and globally, encouraging leaders to seize the opportunity to enhance community support through these lotteries. The People’s Postcode Lottery donates at least 30% of ticket sales to charities and operates via a subscription model, with players entered by postcode for daily draws. However, opposition comes from Allwyn UK, the National Lottery operator in Northern Ireland, which warns that large society lotteries could reduce funding for National Lottery-supported causes by an estimated £5.4 million annually. The ongoing public consultation aims to balance the potential benefits of increased charitable funding against concerns about gambling risks and community impact.