A firm cap on spending
No more than 10 entries per person, so nobody can spend more than £10 a week, £50 in the most expensive month.
Responsible gambling
Our lottery is a gentle, low-stakes way to support the parish. We want it to stay that way for everyone who plays. This page explains our safeguards, the tools you can use, and where to find free, confidential help across the UK.
Need help right now?
Gamble responsiblyLive chat, advice and local support: gamcare.org.uk
To stop playing our lottery straight away, email [email protected] with the subject "Self-exclusion". We act on it the same day we read it, and within one working day at most.
Age limit: 18 and over only
You must be 18 or over to play the Shore Kirk Weekly Lottery or to buy a ticket. No tickets will be sold to anyone under 18, whether online, on paper or in person.
The law allows people aged 16 and 17 to play some society lotteries, and it is a criminal offence to let anyone under 16 take part. We have chosen a stricter rule: like the National Lottery, we only accept players aged 18 and over.
- We check the age of every new player using their name, address and date of birth, through our payment and verification provider.
- If we cannot confirm your age, we will ask for proof (for example a passport or driving licence) before your entries go into any draw.
- If we find that a player is under 18, we cancel their entries, refund every penny and no prize can be paid.
- Lottery volunteers never sell tickets to, or on behalf of, anyone under 18.
Our commitments to you
As a church, we take our duty of care seriously. These safeguards apply to every player.
No credit
We accept Direct Debit and debit cards only. We never accept credit cards, and we never lend or give credit for entries.
No instant play
One draw a week, at a fixed time. No scratchcards, no instant wins, no rollovers and no pressure to "play again".
Responsible marketing
We never market to under-18s, never suggest the lottery is a way out of money worries, and only email you if you agreed to it.
Trained volunteers
Our lottery volunteers know how to spot signs that someone may be struggling and how to point them to help, kindly and without judgement.
Easy to stop
Reduce, pause, cancel or self-exclude at any time by email, by post or in person. We never try to talk you out of it.
A 2-minute self-check
Be honest with yourself. Thinking about the last 12 months, and about all kinds of gambling (lotteries, scratchcards, betting, bingo, gaming machines or online casinos):
- Have you spent more on lotteries or other gambling than you meant to, or more than you can afford?
- Have you needed to spend more and more to get the same excitement?
- Have you tried to win back money you have lost (chasing losses)?
- Have you borrowed money, used credit or sold things to pay for gambling?
- Has gambling caused you money worries, stress or anxiety?
- Have people close to you said they are worried about your gambling?
- Have you hidden your gambling, or lied about how much you spend?
- Have you felt guilty about gambling, or about what happens when you gamble?
What your answers mean
If you answered "yes" to even one of these questions, it is worth taking a step back and talking to someone. Gambling harm can happen to anyone and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133, any time. You can also take a break from our lottery or self-exclude straight away (see below).
Set limits
Limits help you stay in control. You can set or change them at any time by emailing [email protected], writing to the Lottery Office, or speaking to us after Sunday worship.
Monthly spending limit
Choose a monthly limit of £5, £10, £15, £25 or £50. We will never collect more than your limit in any month, even in months with five Friday draws.
Reduce your entries
Lower your number of entries at any time. Reductions start from your next payment, straight away.
Cooling-off on increases
If you ask to raise your entries or your limit, the change only takes effect after 7 days, giving you time to think again.
Take a break or self-exclude
Take a break
If you want a pause, we can suspend your entries and payments for 1 week, 1 month or 3 months. At the end of the break your entries restart automatically, unless you tell us otherwise. We will email you 7 days before they restart.
Self-exclusion
If you feel you need to stop for longer, you can self-exclude for 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or 5 years. When you self-exclude:
- we stop all your entries and cancel your Direct Debit or card payments from the next draw;
- we refund any money you have already paid for draws that have not yet taken place;
- you cannot rejoin, and we will refuse any new entry in your name or at your address, until the period ends;
- we stop sending you any lottery emails or letters, including marketing;
- you cannot shorten a self-exclusion once it has started;
- when it ends, your account stays closed. You would need to contact us and wait a further 24 hours before you could play again.
How to self-exclude
Email [email protected] with the subject "Self-exclusion", your full name, postcode and how long you want to exclude for. You can also write to the Lottery Office or tell any lottery volunteer in person. If you do not say how long, we will apply a 1-year exclusion. We confirm every request in writing.
Exclude yourself from other gambling too
Our self-exclusion covers the Shore Kirk lottery only. If you want to stop all gambling, these free tools can help:
- GAMSTOP: one free registration blocks you from all online gambling websites and apps licensed in Great Britain, for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. gamstop.co.uk. Small society lotteries like ours are not part of GAMSTOP, so please also self-exclude with us directly.
- Gambling blocking software: Gamban and the free BetBlocker block gambling sites and apps on your devices.
- Bank gambling blocks: most UK banks and building societies let you block gambling payments on your debit card in their app or by phone.
- Venue self-exclusion: you can ask betting shops, bingo halls and arcades to exclude you. GamCare's helpline can explain how.
Free, confidential support across the UK
You don't have to be in crisis to ask for help. All of these organisations are independent of us and free to use.
Talk to someone now
National Gambling Helpline
Free, confidential advice for anyone worried about their own or someone else's gambling. Run by GamCare. Open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
0808 8020 133 (free from landlines and mobiles)
Samaritans
If gambling has left you feeling desperate, overwhelmed or unable to cope, talk to someone now. Free, any time, day or night.
Breathing Space (Scotland)
Free, confidential listening service for anyone in Scotland feeling low, anxious or stressed. Weekdays 6pm to 2am; weekends from 6pm Friday to 6am Monday.
NHS 24 and emergencies
For urgent mental health support in Scotland, call NHS 24 on 111. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.
Treatment and ongoing support
GamCare
Information, advice, one-to-one support and group sessions across Great Britain, plus online forums and a chatroom.
RCA Trust (Scotland)
Specialist gambling support in Scotland, including counselling for people who gamble and for those affected by someone else's gambling.
NHS gambling support
Your GP can refer you for NHS support. NHS inform (Scotland) and the NHS website explain the treatment available.
Gordon Moody
Residential treatment, retreats and online support for people severely affected by gambling.
Gamblers Anonymous
Free peer-support meetings, in person and online, for people who want to stop gambling.
GamAnon
Support meetings for family members and friends of people with a gambling problem.
Money and debt advice
StepChange Debt Charity
Free, expert debt advice and solutions.
National Debtline
Free, independent debt advice by phone and online.
MoneyHelper
Free, impartial money guidance, backed by government.
Citizens Advice Scotland
Free advice on money, benefits, debt and more from your local bureau.
Young people
Fast Forward
Gambling education and support for young people and those who work with them in Scotland.
Childline
Free, private support for anyone under 19 in the UK, about anything, including gambling.
A note about GambleAware: the charity GambleAware, which ran the begambleaware.org website, closed on 31 March 2026 when responsibility for gambling support passed to new statutory commissioners in England, Scotland and Wales. The National Gambling Helpline continues on 0808 8020 133, run by GamCare. Contact details on this page were checked on 13 October 2026.
Worried about someone else?
Gambling harm affects families and friends too. Signs can include money going missing, unexplained debts, secrecy about spending, mood swings, or someone borrowing more often.
- Choose a calm moment to talk, and focus on how you feel rather than blaming.
- Don't lend money or pay off gambling debts for them.
- Look after yourself: GamAnon and the National Gambling Helpline support family members as well as gamblers.
If you believe someone playing our lottery is under 18, or is being harmed by playing, please tell us in confidence at [email protected]. We will look into it carefully.
How our lottery is regulated
Argyll and Bute Council
Our lottery is registered as a small society lottery with Argyll and Bute Council under Schedule 11 of the Gambling Act 2005. Licensing Section, Kilmory, Lochgilphead PA31 8RT. 01546 604355, [email protected].
The Gambling Commission
The Gambling Commission regulates gambling in Great Britain and publishes advice for the public. gamblingcommission.gov.uk, 0121 230 6666.
Unhappy with how we have handled something? See our complaints procedure.