The National Lotteries Commission is the only National Regulator for lotteries and sports pools. The NLC regulates the National Lottery Operator, Society lotteries, Private Lotteries and Lotteries Incidental to exempt entertainment. The NLC ensures that the interest of all participants in lotteries are protected and ensure that all lotteries are conducted with due propriety. The NLC police any other lottery type schemes. The NLC monitors and regulates the running of various lottery competitions, including those organised by non-profit organisations to raise funds and by companies to promote their goods and services.
The National Lotteries Commission also serves as a Grant Funder, providing registered Non Profit Organisations with funding to establish projects that improve the lives of everyday South Africans. Our grant funding focuses mainly in areas that require enough support to be able to bring growth and change within impoverished communities. The impact of our grant funding model, is designed in a manner that plays a pertinent role in changing peoples lives. We as a commission are guided by a strict mandate, that governs our operations and helms the model of our grant funding.
Our Mandate
The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) was established in terms of the Lotteries Amendment Act (No 32 of 2013) to regulate the National Lottery as well as other lotteries, including society lotteries to raise funds and promotional competitions.
The NLC evolved out of the National Lotteries Board, established in terms of the Lotteries Act No 57 of 1997.
Other responsibilities of the Commission include advising the Minister of Trade and Industry on policy matters relating to the National Lottery and other lotteries.
NLC members are also trustees of the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), into which National Lottery proceeds that are intended for allocation to good causes are deposited.
The NLC does not adjudicate applications for funding or make allocations to organisations. This is done by committees known as distributing agencies which are also appointed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, in conjunction with other relevant Ministers, after a process of public nomination. The NLC provides administrative support to the distributing agencies.
The NLC’s mandate is described in more detail below.
Functions
Act No 32 of 2013: Lotteries amendment Act, 2013 specifies that the NLC shall fulfill the functions listed below as listed below in a manner that is open and transparent.
- Advise the minister on the issuing of the license to conduct the National Lottery
- Ensure that the National Lottery and Sports Pools are conducted with all due propriety
- Ensure that the interests of every participant in the National Lottery are adequately protected
- Ensure that the net proceeds of the National Lottery are as large as possible
- Administer the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) and hold it in trust
- Monitor, regulate and police lotteries incidental to exempt entertainment, private lotteries, society lotteries and any competition contemplated in section 54
- Advise the Minister on percentages of money to be allocated in terms of section 26(3)
- Advise the Minister on the efficacy of legislation pertaining to lotteries and ancillary matters
- Advise the Minister on establishing and implementing a social responsibility program in respect of lotteries
- Administer and invest the money paid to the board in accordance with the Lotteries Act
- Perform such additional duties in respect of lotteries as the Minister may assign to the board
- Make such arrangements as may be specified in the licence for the protection of prize monies and sums for distribution
- Advise the Minister on any matter relating to the National Lottery and other lotteries or any other matter on which the Minister requires the advice of the Board.
