The Committee for Home Affairs is responsible for the licensing, registration and regulation of gambling. Gambling in Guernsey is regulated by a number of different pieces of legislation. The primary piece of legislation is the Gambling (Guernsey) Law, 1971. There are other specific Ordinances which relate to specific types of gambling.
For information on the Channel Islands Christmas Lottery please click here. The States Trading Supervisory Board has responsibility for the Channel Islands Christmas Lottery and the scratch-cards.
Amusements with prizes
- Amusements with prizes are permitted at agricultural and horticultural shows and at pleasure fairs where the main amusement is provided by 'showmen'.
- Amusements with Prizes can take a variety of forms and you are advised to contact the Office of the Committee for Home Affairs to take advice on what is required.
Bookmakers and Betting Offices
- Bookmakers' and Betting Offices must act in accordance with the Gambling (Betting) Ordinance, 1973.
- This Ordinance limits the number of Bookmakers in Guernsey and sets out the rules regarding Betting Offices.
- If you would like further information on this area, or would like to make a complaint about a Betting Office or Bookmaker, please contact the Office of the Committee for Home Affairs by emailing homeaffairs@gov.gg.
Cinema Racing
- 'Cinema Racing' is the showing of films of horses racing whereby persons may place bets prior to the screening in order to receive cash prizes should their horse win.
- How do I make an application?
- Persons wishing to stage a Cinema Racing Event should download and complete the relevant application form on this page. Attention should be paid to all terms and conditions.
- Where do I send my application?
- Completed applications should be sent, together with the appropriate payment or proof of payment, to the Office of the Committee for Home Affairs .Applications can also be sent to homeaffairs@gov.gg
- After the event
- Once the event has taken place, the promoter must complete a Form of Return and return this document to the Office of the Committee for Home Affairs.
- A Form of Return will usually be sent out to the applicant at the same time as their approved Permit. The Form of Return is otherwise available for download from this page.
- The permit is free of charge
Crown & Anchor
- 'Crown and Anchor' is a table dice game which dates back to the 18th Century when it was popular among sailors of the British Royal Navy. It is a popular feature at the Island's agricultural and horticultural shows, horse racing meetings and regattas.
- Crown and Anchor Operators
- Crown and Anchor tables may only be operated by approved Operator licence holders. These licences are valid until 31st December (irrespective on when the licence was granted) and need to be renewed on an annual basis.
- Lists of approved Crown and Anchor Operators are available from the Office of the Committee for Home Affairs on request.
- Crown and Anchor Table Permits
- Before holding Crown and Anchor at an event, individuals must apply for a Crown and Anchor Table Permit. Forms are available for download from this page. Attention should be paid to all terms and conditions.
- You can only apply for a Crown & Anchor Permit if your event fall within one of the categories listed below:
- - agricultural or horticultural shows,
- - horse-race meetings,
- - regattas,
- - other events where the event includes participation in, or support of, sports, games or cultural activities, or the main objective of the event is to raise proceeds which are devoted to purposes other than private gain.
- All applications must be accompanied by the following:
- - Written approval from the Parish Constables for the application;
- - A signed statement of agreement from the occupier of the land on which the event is proposed to take place;
- - Appropriate payment for the permit.
- Where do I send my application?
- Completed applications should be sent, together with the appropriate payment or proof of payment, to the Office of the Committee for Home Affairs. Applications can also be sent to homeaffairs@gov.gg
- How much does a Permit cost? How can I pay?
- A Table Permit costs £100 per day per table. Should you wish to pay by any other mean than cheque, you can by consulting the 'How to Pay' document available in the downloadable section and quoting reference HM2561 250060.
Private Lottery (Raffles)
- Lotteries can be promoted in Guernsey for charitable purposes, in participation of or in support of games, sports, or cultural activities and for other purposes which are not for the purpose of private gain.
- How do I make an application?
- Persons wishing to make application to organise a private lottery (raffle) can download and complete the relevant application form from this page. Terms and conditions are included in this document.
- Sale of Tickets on the internet
- the sale of tickets from the society website is permitted, however the tickets will need to be handed in person to the purchaser and cannot be emailed, texted or posted to them.
- Where do I send my application?
- Completed applications should be sent, together with the appropriate payment or proof of payment, to the Office of the Committee for Home Affairs . Applications can also be sent to homeaffairs@gov.gg
- After the event
- Once the event has taken place, the promoter must complete a Form of Return and return this document to the Office of the Committee for Home Affairs .
- A Form of Return will usually be sent out to the applicant at the same time as their approved Permit. The Form of Return is otherwise available for download from this page.
- The permit is free of charge
Data Protection
- For details regarding how your personal data is processed, please see the Data Protection page and look at the Fair Processing Notice for the Committee for Home Affairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Office of the Committee for Home Affairs (''Home Affairs'') is unable to provide definitive legal advice in relation to an individual proposal, in order to ensure its independence and impartiality and we encourage you to seek your own legal advice before proceeding with any promotion locally.
The following set of frequently asked questions and answers has been put together to provide further clarity in relation to the promoting gambling locally.
Do I need a licence or permit to promote a lottery (or raffle) for charity, locally?
- A lottery (or raffle event) is considered to be a form of gambling as defined in the Gambling (Guernsey) Law, 1971.
- If you wish to promote a lottery (or raffle) in advance of the draw i.e. you want to sell the tickets in the days or months leading up to the date of the draw, you will need to apply for a permit.
- If you wish to promote a lottery (or raffle) and you are selling the tickets on the same day as the draw then you do not need to apply for a licence. This is called an 'incidental lottery'.
- Incidental lotteries are 'incidental' to the event, meaning that the lottery is not the only reason why someone would attend the event. For example, a dinner and dance event with a raffle during the event to raise money for a charity, or a raffle / tombola at a school fete.
- 'Incidental lottery' tickets can only be sold on the premises of the event, whist the event is taking place, to those present at the event. The price of tickets should be the same, although it is possible for a discount to be afforded for multiple ticket sales.
- Lotteries and raffles may be promoted locally in Guernsey, Herm & Jethou. They must be 'promoted' for, or on behalf of, a charity or a society established for charitable purposes or for participating in athletic sports, games or cultural activities.
- Lotteries and raffles cannot be promoted for private gain or for any commercial undertaking.
- The money raised from the lottery, after deducting expenses, must be given the specified charity or used for the purposes of the society and promoters must complete a form of return. The promoter must be duly authorised in writing by the society to promote the lottery.
- Tickets in any lottery or raffle should cost no more than £1, unless specific permission is sought, for example for a 'million pound lottery'. No person under the age of 16 is allowed to sell or purchase tickets and no prize should be worth more than £100, except when permission is granted.
- No notice or advertisement shall be exhibited or published without permission from Home Affairs unless;
- · distributed to members of the society only
- · the notice is the ticket
- · the notice is the notice about the winning tickets
- · a notice of the profits of the lottery and how applied to the charity or society
Can I sell lottery tickets online / by post?
- The Law requires that lotteries be promoted by person's present in the Bailiwick and that "no person shall, whether as principal or as servant conduct any business in the course of which any gambling transaction is negotiated or entered into with, or on behalf of a stranger." A stranger is defined as "a person who is not actually present in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, or, in the case of a lottery promoted by the States and the States of Jersey, is not actually present in the Channel Islands, and includes a body corporate whether incorporated in the Bailiwick of Guernsey or elsewhere."
- The Law prohibits sending tickets through the post to persons who are not already a member of the society to which the lottery is being promoted.
- Further, the Law strictly prohibits young people (under 16) from gambling.
- Promoters must therefore sell tickets to the lottery in person. Firstly, to ensure that no person under the age of 16 is allowed to enter into the draw, but also to ensure that anyone purchasing a ticket is present within the Bailiwick and that no tickets are sent via the post. Emailing a ticket is equivalent to posting.
Purchasing lottery tickets as a syndicate
- Under the Law, the sale of part of a ticket is prohibited. However, if the sole purchaser of a ticket wished to share the cost of the ticket and agree a share of any winnings, then this private sale is a matter for the ticket purchaser.
Social Media Like & Share and 'Display a sticker' competitions
- Promotions which require an individual to collecting a free sticker to display in their car are not considered to come within the definition of "gambling" or "playing a game". Nor is a promotion on social media which requires an individual to 'Like & Share' a Facebook post/page or Instagram post to enter into a prize draw.
- Anyone considering such promotions should check the terms and conditions of any social media site and seek the permission of any premises where stickers may be available for collection.
Can I organise a Bingo?
- Bingo is considered to be gaming under the Gambling (Guernsey) Law, 1971.
- The following rules apply:
- a. The chances in the game must be equally favourable to all the players
- b. The gaming is conducted so that all the chances are equally favourable
- c. No money or money's worth that is put down by the player is disposed of in any other way other than as payment for prizes
- d. No other payment is required for the person to take part (i.e. a payment required to gain access to the premises)
- e. Young people under the age of 18 may play if they are in the presence of, or have the permission of their parent or guardian
- f. If played in public the gaming must be for purposes other than private gain i.e. fundraising for charity etc.
Does my event enable me to apply for a Crown & Anchor table?
- You can only apply for a Crown & Anchor Permit if your event falls within one of the categories listed below:
- - agricultural or horticultural shows,
- - horse-race meetings,
- - regattas,
- - other events where the event includes participation in, or support of, sports, games or cultural activities, or the main objective of the event is to raise proceeds which are devoted to purposes other than private gain.
If you have any further questions please email homeaffairs@gov.gg - please provide as much details as possible.
