Lifeboat Lottery frequently asked questions

If you have any questions that are not covered below, then our Supporter Experience team are here to help. Please contact us on 0300 300 9920. Lines are open Monday-Friday 08:00-18:00. Or you can email [email protected], we’d love to hear from you.

How will I find out if I'm a winner?

We will endeavour to notify winners by phone, email or post within 5 working days of the draw date. 

How are winners selected?

Each ticket you purchase is converted into a single ‘entry’ that is then entered into the electronic draw. Winners are chosen at random using a Random Number Generator. The random generator software has been tested and approved by an independent test house approved by the Gambling Commission. We identify you as the winner using your supporter number unless you have sold tickets to family or friends too, in which case the ticket number is used to identify the winner. 

I’ve moved house. How can I update my contact information?

Please contact our Supporter Experience team on 0300 300 9920, or email [email protected], if you need to update any of your contact information.

How can I change the number of tickets I play or cancel?

Please contact our Supporter Experience team on 0300 300 9920, or email [email protected], if you wish to request ticket books, change the number of books we send you each lottery, or to stop being sent books altogether.

When do the RNLI lottery draws take place?

New Year Lottery 2024 – Open date 8 January 2024. Close date 29 February 2024. 
Spring Lottery 2024 – Open date 8 April 2024. Close date 23 May 2024.
Summer Lottery 2024 – Open date 1 July 2024. Close date 22 August 2024.
Christmas Lottery 2024 – Open date 30 September 2024. Close date 28 November 2024.

Dates may be subject to change.

How old do I have to be to play the RNLI Lifeboat Lottery?

You must be 18 years or older to play the RNLI Lifeboat Lottery. Lottery tickets cannot be sold by or to a person who is under 18 years of age. Underage gambling is an offence.

Can I play if I am not a resident of Great Britain?

No. To play the Lifeboat Lottery you need to be a resident of mainland England (excluding the Channel Islands and Isle of Man), Scotland or Wales.

How can I pay for the lottery?

You can pay by cheque or postal order made payable to ‘RNLI (Sales) Limited’ or by debit or credit card. However please note that due to legislative changes in April 2020, we are no longer able to accept credit card payments over the phone.

Can I set up a Direct Debit to play the lottery?

No, sorry, we do not accept Direct Debit payments for the Lifeboat Lottery.

Are my ticket purchases eligible for Gift Aid?

Unfortunately, we are not able to accept Gift Aid on ticket purchases. However, we are able to Gift Aid any donations you may send in with or without your ticket purchase. Find out more about adding Gift Aid to your donations to the RNLI.

Who is the Lottery Management Company for the RNLI Lifeboat Lottery?

The Lottery Management Company for the RNLI Lifeboat Lottery is Woods Valldata (Lansdowne House, Bumpers Way, Chippenham SN14 6NG)

What is the max number of entries I can buy?

You may purchase up to a maximum of 150 entries per transaction per person and up to a maximum of 150 entries in total per lottery per person.

I’d like to share how it feels to be a winner in the Lifeboat Lottery – how can I get in touch?

If you are one of our lucky winners then we would love to hear from you! Please tell us how it feels to be a winner in the Lifeboat Lottery by emailing [email protected] or calling us on 0300 300 9920.

How much of the money raised by the lottery goes towards the charity?

In 2022 the RNLI received £3,168,746 in Lifeboat Lottery ticket sales and 78% of money raised by the Lifeboat Lottery went directly towards the RNLI contributing towards its lifesaving mission, 1% on prizes and 21% on expenses.

Will I incur a charge if I buy my lottery tickets with a credit card?

If paying by credit card, you may be charged a fee on top of your lottery purchase. Please check with your bank for further information.

Do I need to return my lottery Ticket Stubs?

If you are buying entries for only yourself, you do not need to return the Ticket Stubs to us. You just need to complete and return the Response Form and payment.

If you are selling tickets on to family or friends, please fill in the contact details on the Ticket Stubs and send these back to us along with the Response Form and payment.

How can I view the Lifeboat Lottery Policy?

View our Lifeboat Lottery Policy (PDF 195KB)

R.N.L.I. (SALES) LIMITED is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission under account number 43072.