3.1 Draw date
Our weekly lottery draw normally takes place on a Friday. We reserve the right, due to holidays and unforeseen circumstances, to change the draw date without notice.
In the event that a draw is delayed it will take place as soon as practically possible and before the next scheduled weekly draw takes place. Only players who had credit in time for the original draw date will be entered into the draw. If multiple draws are delayed due to events outside our control, draws will be run in order as soon as it is practically possible to do so.
Occasionally a draw may take place early (for example where Friday is a bank holiday). In these circumstances we will ensure that any payments made by the normal weekly draw deadline have been processed before the draw takes place.
3.2 Cost of entry
Each entry costs £1 per weekly draw and must be paid in advance. Only lottery numbers that have been paid for can be entered in the draw. Any payments received after 5pm on a Wednesday are not guaranteed to be entered into that week’s draw. If regular lottery players miss a payment their lottery number will not be entered in the lottery draw for the period missed. We accept no liability for missed draws due to late payment.
3.3 How to play
- Online
- Visit or phone the Lottery Office on 01543 434020
- Speak to one of our Hospice Fundraising Representatives
- Complete the form on a lottery leaflet, available at hospice receptions, hospice shops and other selected outlets (regular weekly play only)
- Via your employer’s payroll department if they are signed up to ‘Play as you earn’ (regular weekly play only)
- St Giles Hospice retail shops (one-off tickets)
For regular plays, once we have received and processed your lottery application, you will receive a confirmation letter confirming your unique lottery number and payment information.
For one-off plays you will receive a lottery ticket at the point of sale. For online purchases of one-off plays, your ticket will be sent by email before the draw takes place.
For single ticket sales in St Giles Hospice Shops you will receive a ticket in store at point of sale.
3.4 Player types
- Individual – any winnings will be made payable to the named person.
- Gift – lottery vouchers are available as a gift (from £10). Further information is available from the Lottery Office or on our website. Both the person buying the gift and the recipient must satisfy our lottery T&Cs. A gift recipient may choose to donate the value of the gift to the hospice if they do not want to participate in the lottery.
- Syndicates – a group of individuals can choose to play the lottery as part of a syndicate but we will require the number to be registered with us under the name of one nominated syndicate player. It is advisable for individuals within a syndicate group to take professional advice on syndicate membership and make a formal syndicate agreement in writing before buying lottery tickets. We do not accept liability for the actions or agreements made by a syndicate group.
- Joint plays – we no longer accept plays in joint names but will continue to honour existing joint name plays with winnings and Promise Cards issued in joint names.
3.5 Multiple entries
The number of lottery numbers per regular player, per week, is limited to 10. If you wish to buy more than 10 regular entries, please contact us prior to your application. The maximum number of single lottery tickets per player, per week, is limited to 100. Any requests to play over these limits is at the discretion of the Individual Giving Manager after contact has been made with the player (a “customer interaction”).
3.6 Types of payment – regular weekly play
- Continual payment (regular play)
This is the most efficient and cost-effective way to play the lottery, in order to save the hospice money and ensure you are in every draw.
Direct debit – payments will continue unless you cancel your direct debit payment with us or your bank.
Standing Order – payments will continue unless you cancel your standing order payment with your bank (we are unable to stop a payment for you).
Payroll / Play as you Earn – if your employer has joined our ‘Play as you Earn’ scheme, you can pay via a post-tax salary deduction. Lottery payments will be paid to us by your employer and must be received by us in advance of the draw.
- Renewable payment (regular play)
Cheque or debit card – you will receive a renewal reminder by telephone, letter or email before your credit expires. We are not able to accept online or telephone credit card payments for lottery due to gambling legislation. The minimum payment we can accept is £13, due to administration costs of processing renewable payments.
- One-off payment for single tickets
Single tickets for a particular draw are £1 each and can be bought in the following ways:
- In person – from St Giles Hospice shops.
- Online or by calling the Lottery Office – by debit card only.
Tickets for the current week’s draw will be on sale until midnight on Wednesday.
Any tickets purchased after the close for the current week’s draw will be entered into the following week’s draw.
3.7 Payment amount and frequency
Regular lottery payments can be made annually (£52), half yearly (£26), quarterly (£13), or monthly (£4.34). Monthly payments of £4.34 (£52 divided into 12 regular payments) are by standing order/direct debit only and include 34p to accumulate and pay for the fifth week in five-week months. We also offer the option of a monthly £5 payment where the £4.34 lottery payment is round up to include and additional 66p donation to the hospice (we call this ‘keep the change’).
Single one-off tickets are £1 per ticket.
3.8 How the draw works
Our weekly lottery draw is conducted using lottery software (Donorflex), provided by CMAC Computer Systems Ltd T/A Care Data Systems. Donorflex Lottery is fully licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission.
3.9 Winners and prizes
The following weekly prize structure is in place:
55 cash prizes guaranteed each week –
1st £1,000 jackpot
2nd £100
3rd 3 x £50
4th 50 x £10
Plus an annual Superdraw, where you’ll be in with the chance to win a guaranteed £10,000.
Winners are selected by a Random Number Generator (RNG) within the Donorflex lottery software. The RNG has been independently tested by a Gambling Commission approved test house, using a variety of industry-standard statistical tests.
3.10 How to check winning numbers
A list of the weekly winning numbers will be available on our website or by calling the lottery office. For one-off tickets purchased in shops, ticket barcodes can also be checked by scanning at the till.
3.11 How to claim if you have won
For regular weekly plays, there is no need to claim – prizes will be sent out by post, usually within 10 working days of the draw taking place. Prizes may occasionally be delayed due to cheque signatory absence or other circumstances out of our control. Jackpot winners may be offered a bank transfer as an alternative payment option.
For one-off ticket plays (players who have purchased one-off tickets in a particular draw), it is your responsibility to keep your ticket or email ticket confirmation safe and check if you have won a prize (see how to check winning numbers below)
- Winnings of £50 and £100 can be claimed by calling or emailing the Lottery Office to request a ‘one-off ticket claim form’, to be completed and returned to us either in person or by post. The winning ticket will be required before prizes will be paid out. For tickets bought online a claim can be made by contacting the lottery office with a copy of the ticket confirmation email, either by email, post or in person.
- Winnings of £1,000 and over must be claimed in person (initial claim can be made by phone). The winning ticket and proof of ID will be required before prizes are paid out. For tickets bought online the email confirmation, payment card and additional proof of ID will be required before a prize is paid out. For online purchases where purchaser details are captured, prizes will only be paid in the name of the person who bought the ticket.
Photocopied, scanned, damaged or defaced tickets will not be accepted and no prizes will be paid out for lost tickets. We do not take responsibility for tickets lost in the post and therefore recommend that any winning ticket claims are made in person/via telephone or through recorded post.
Any uncashed cheques, unclaimed prizes or expired vouchers will be taken as a donation to the hospice after 6 months.
3.12 St Giles Hospice Vouchers
We have now phased out out St Giles Hospice vouchers – existing vouchers will still be valid until their expiry date.
3.13 Promise Card
Based on feedback from our supporters, the Promise Card was not used extensively and added to the costs of running the lottery. Therefore, we made the decision to phase out the Promise Card.
Existing cards will still be valid until 30th September 2025.
3.14 Player administration
Change of personal details (regular players only)
It is your responsibility to advise us of any change of name, address, or other relevant details. This is important as we will issue letters and winners’ cheques to the name and address held on our database.
If we become aware that you have moved from the address we hold (e.g. returned mail), and we are unable to contact you to obtain your new details, your lottery number may be suspended or cancelled, with remaining credit and future payments received treated as donations to St Giles Hospice.
Any returned winnings will be held for 6 months, and if remain unclaimed, will be taken as a donation.
If you pay via the ‘Play as you Earn’ scheme and you change employer, you should notify the Lottery Office to make alternative payment arrangements.
Cancellation
You may cancel your lottery number at any time by contacting the Lottery Office. If you cancel after 5pm on a Wednesday, your number may still be entered in that week’s draw, if there is available credit. We reserve the right to cancel a lottery number(s) without giving reason and any credit will be refunded in full.
If your lottery number has remaining credit on cancellation your number will continue to be entered into the draw until the credit runs out, unless we are advised otherwise. Alternatively, you may request a refund of the remaining credit or donate it to the hospice. Refunds may be subject to a £5 administration fee. If you pay by Standing Order, you must also cancel your agreement with your bank (as we are unable to do this). If you pay via the ‘Play as you Earn’ scheme, you must also notify your employer’s payroll department that you wish to cancel your lottery deductions.
On cancellation of your lottery play(s), your Promise Card is no longer valid and should not be used.
On cancellation of lottery gifts or one-off tickets, no refunds will be given. You can choose to donate remaining credit to the Hospice or to leave your number in the draw until the credit expires.
If you move to live outside Great Britain, your number(s) will be cancelled, and any remaining credit will be refunded or can be donated to St Giles Hospice.
Deceased players
Where a player is reported to us as deceased, the lottery number will be cancelled and if there is remaining lottery credit, the number will continue to be entered into the draw until the credit expires. Any winnings will be made payable to the Estate via executors or administering solicitors / executors.
Alternatively, we will accept instructions from an executor, administering solicitor or next of kin to:
- transfer into a new name (proof of executor or beneficiary status required)
- cancel and refund remaining credit to the estate (may be subject to a £5 admin fee)
- cancel and donate any remaining credit to the Hospice
If payments are made by Standing Order, the executor must also cancel the agreement with the bank (as we are unable to do this). If we continue to receive payments from the bank after being notified a player has deceased, these will be held for 6 months awaiting instruction. After 6 months, any remaining credit held without instruction will be accepted as a donation to the Hospice.
