Portsmouth Lottery plans get green light

The city’s Tory cabinet has agreed to spend £3,500 hiring external lottery management company Gatherwell to create the scheme.

The firm will create a website where organisations and the public can take part and win cash prizes.

As reported, it would work similarly to the Vale Lottery, a weekly lottery that directly supports good causes which benefit the Aylesbury Vale community.

Sixty-per cent of the tickets sold – which would cost £1 each – would go to good causes that benefit the community.

Another 20 per cent would be given to residents in the form of cash prizes – the highest being £20,000. The remaining 20 per cent would cover the lottery operator’s fees.

Councillor Donna Jones, Tory council leader, said there was no risk to the council as Gatherwell would control the whole operation.

Welcoming the plans, Cllr Jones said: ‘As a cabinet we have agreed to spend £3,500, which is a one-off payment going to Gatherwell.

‘We have done a lot of research into this and decided Gatherwell is the best company to run the Portsmouth Lottery for us.

‘There is no risk to the council whatsoever and the positive outcome is it will produce tens of thousands of pounds each year for good causes across the city, such as charities and smaller organisations which will really benefit from the funding.

‘A funding panel will be set up who will determine how to deliver the money.

‘Gatherwell will facilitate the running of the lottery and take the responsibility off the council.

‘It’s a great way of putting funding back into the local area.

‘Knowing the people of Portsmouth and how much they like to support their own causes, it’s a good way to provide for and protect local services.’

The plans were first proposed by the Conservative deputy leader of Portsmouth City Council, Councillor Luke Stubbs.