The United Kingdom’s national lottery funding is overly concentrated in the south of England, according to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who announced the first comprehensive review in over two decades of the distribution model for lottery proceeds. The consultation, launched on July 2, aims to assess whether the current system effectively serves communities across the country and how changes could improve funding access for smaller towns and organizations.

Since its inception in 1994, the national lottery has raised more than £53 billion for good causes, with about 23p of every pound spent on tickets channelled into sectors including arts and culture, sport, heritage, and community projects. The allocation of funds currently follows legislated guidelines, with decisions made independently by various grant-making bodies. However, Nandy described the model as outdated and criticized its centralized approach, which she said tends to favor London and the southeast of England.

“Too often decisions are top-down, remote and made in distant rooms hundreds of miles away from the communities who know their needs and ambitions best,” Nandy said, highlighting disparities in funding distribution and calling the lack of public involvement over two decades “outrageous.” Her comments resonate with Labour politician Andy Burnham’s broader calls for devolution of powers from London.

The 12-week consultation period invites public input and contributions from organizations to explore how lottery funds could be better allocated. Nandy emphasized the importance of enabling smaller communities to access funds more easily and hinted at possible structural changes to empower local decision-making. She described herself as “a devolution radical” committed to revitalizing how national lottery money is distributed.

The lottery franchise was held by Camelot until 2022, when Allwyn took over the contract following a competitive licensing process. Allwyn has pledged to double its contributions to good causes to £60 million per week by 2034, though the company has faced challenges in meeting this ambitious target so far. Allwyn’s Chief Executive, Andria Vidler, underscored the public’s support for the lottery as a source of funding for charities and initiatives across the country, stating that players participate not only for potential winnings but also to support causes they care about.

The licensing competition itself generated controversy, including a legal challenge from media entrepreneur Richard Desmond, who sought £1.3 billion in damages over the Gambling Commission’s handling of the process. Desmond’s claim was dismissed earlier this year.

Supporting the review, Fiona Twycross, Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling, described the consultation as a “genuine chance” to influence the distribution of lottery funds and ensure they align with the priorities of players and communities nationwide. The review marks the first opportunity in more than 20 years to reconsider how billions raised by lottery ticket sales are invested for public benefit.