The Pet Lottery FAQ
- About The Pet Lottery
- What is The Pet Lottery?
- The Pet Lottery is an exciting way to support Blue Cross. Entering gives you the chance to win a cash prize every single week, while helping raise vital funds for pets in need. It feels amazing to know that every time you play, you’re helping improve the lives of sick, injured and homeless pets and the people who love them.
- How do I play The Pet Lottery?
- Simply choose the number of entries you would like, up to a maximum of three. Then follow the easy steps to enter your details and set up your monthly Direct Debit. And that’s it!
- Can I buy more than three entries?
- You can only buy a maximum of three entries to each lottery draw online. If you would like to buy more entries, up to a maximum of five, please call The Pet Lottery Helpline on 01628 821986.
- How can I find out what my numbers are?
- We’ll post your lucky numbers to you within 21 days, along with your welcome pack.
- Can I choose my own numbers?
- All of our lottery players’ numbers are allocated automatically and are unique. This means unlike some other lotteries, you’ll never have to share your prize with anyone else.
- What is the Super Draw?
- We hold four Super Draws a year, each with over 100 chances to win and a total prize fund of £11,650. The Super Draw replaces the normal weekly draw four times a year to offer one lucky winner the chance to bag the jackpot of £10,000. And the best bit? As a weekly player you’re entered in the Super Draws automatically.
- Who runs The Pet Lottery?
- The weekly draw will be conducted every Friday by our external lottery manager, CFP Lottery and Raffles Ltd. Blue Cross are the promoter of The Pet Lottery which is regulated by the Gambling Commission under legislation laid down in the Gambling Act 2005 (as amended). All profits from The Pet Lottery will be used for the charitable purposes of Blue Cross.
- What is The Pet Lottery?
- Payments and winnings
- How are winners drawn?
- The lottery draw will be conducted every Friday. The draw will be conducted by a random number generator that has been tested and approved by an independent, Gambling Commission approved, third-party test house. The system selects the winners, picking the top prize winner first and the 94 third prize winners last.
- How many winners will there be each week?
- There are 100 prizes to be won each week with 102 prizes to be won in every Super Draw. Unlike other lotteries you won’t share your prize with anyone. However, people with more than one line could win more than one prize in the same draw. Find out more about The Pet Lottery prizes.
- How do I claim my prize?
- Winners of prizes will be notified and sent payment by BACs within 14 days of the draw if they pay by Direct Debit or payment by cheque within 21 days of the draw for any other payment method e.g. card/cheque/postal order.
- How much will my Direct Debit be?
- You will be entered into a draw for each week of the year but because some months are longer than others, we split the cost equally across the 12 months of the year. So the cost for one entry per week is £4.34 a month. Two entries a week cost £8.68 per month, and so on. Working it out this way means your Direct Debit doesn’t change month to month.
- When will my Direct Debit be collected?
- We can offer four payment dates each month and when you sign up you’ll be allocated the next available payment date which you’ll be notified of by post in your welcome pack. If you’d like to change your payment date, please phone The Pet Lottery helpline on 01628 821986.
- Are there other ways I can play The Pet Lottery other than by Direct Debit?
- If you’d rather pay by card or cheque, please call The Pet Lottery helpline on 01628 821986.
- I’m an existing lottery player, how can I increase my number of entries?
- Please call The Pet Lottery helpline if you would like to increase your number of entries.
- Do you accept payment by Paypal?
- Unfortunately, we can’t currently offer this but hope to offer this option on our website soon.
- How soon after signing up could I win?
- You could be a winner from the very first draw you are entered into. Due to administrative processes, there is approximately a three week gap from when you sign up to your first direct debit payment. You will be entered into the next possible draw after payment has been taken.
- Are my entry payments eligible for Gift Aid?
- Unfortunately due to HMRC rules we are unable to claim gift aid on lottery entries. However, when entering the lottery, you can choose to donate the change which will be eligible for gift aid. Or if at any time you’d like to make a donation (which is eligible for gift aid) separately to entering the lottery please visit the Blue Cross website.
- How do I cancel my entry and Direct Debit?
- You can cancel your entry at any time by contacting us directly by calling The Pet Lottery helpline on 01628 821986 or by emailing lottery@bluecross.org.uk. You can also cancel directly with your bank but please also notify us.
- How are winners drawn?
- How funds are used
- How does The Pet Lottery help fund Blue Cross’s work?
- The Pet Lottery is essential in helping fund our vital work. The money raised helps us provide veterinary care to sick and injured pets, offer expert behavioural help, and find loving, happy homes for pets in need. It also helps us educate the public on pet welfare, advocate for better legislation and support people who are struggling to cope with the loss of a much-loved pet.
- Shouldn’t the prize money be going towards helping pets?
- All prize money is raised by payments from people playing The Pet Lottery. The prizes we give away are a small proportion of the total income we raise, so the pets aren’t missing out. After all, if we didn’t run The Pet Lottery we wouldn’t have access to that income in the first place. Even better, the more people who join The Pet Lottery the more we’ll be able to help pets who have no one else.
- How does The Pet Lottery help fund Blue Cross’s work?
- Problems and complaints
- Why haven’t I received my lottery numbers?
- Sometimes post goes astray. If you haven’t received your numbers within 21 days of signing up, please call The Pet Lottery helpline on 01628 821986 or email us at lottery@bluecross.org.uk and we’ll sort it out.
- I’m struggling to sign up. Where can I get help?
- Call The Pet Lottery helpline on 01628 821986 or email us on lottery@bluecross.org.uk and we’ll do our best to help.
- How do I make a complaint about The Pet Lottery?
- Blue Cross operates a Complaints and Disputes Procedure. If you have a complaint you can call The Pet Lottery helpline on 01628 821 986 or email lottery@bluecross.org.uk. If you are unhappy with the way a complaint is resolved you can contact the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS). IBAS acts as an impartial adjudicator on disputes that arise between betting/gambling operators and their customers.
- I think I have a gambling problem, what should I do?
- If you feel you have a problem with gambling please visit the BeGambleAware website for help and advice at www.begambleaware.org or contact The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 802 0133. Lines are open 24 hours a day. For more information please visit our Gambling Support webpage.
- Why haven’t I received my lottery numbers?
Blue Cross Raffle FAQ
- About the Blue Cross Raffle
- What is the Blue Cross Raffle?
- The Blue Cross Raffle is an exciting way to support Blue Cross. We run four raffles a year, and with each raffle ticket you buy, you have the chance to win great cash prizes while raising vital funds to care for pets in need. It feels amazing to know that every time you play you’re helping improve the lives of sick, injured and homeless pets and the people who love them.
- How do I enter a raffle?
- Simply choose the number of tickets you would like, up to a maximum of 60 tickets. Then enter your personal and payment details, and cross your fingers!
- How can I pay for my entries?
- Supporters playing the Raffle by post can purchase their entries by debit or credit card, cheque, or postal order. Supporters playing the Raffle online or by telephone can purchase their entries by debit card. In line with the Gambling Commission regulations, we are unfortunately unable to accept payment by credit card online or over the phone. Please note that regardless of entry purchase method, we are unable to accept cash payments or Charity Aid Foundation (CAF) vouchers.
- Do I receive my tickets in the post if I play online?
- You won’t receive paper tickets when you enter online. We’ll send your entry numbers in an email instead. This helps to keep printing and postage costs down, which means more of your entry money goes to helping pets.
- Can I play if I live outside the UK?
- The Blue Cross Raffle is only open to residents of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Please note that the Isle of Man and Channel Islands are not included.
- Who runs the Blue Cross Raffle?
- The raffle will be conducted every quarter by our external lottery manager CFP Lottery and Raffles Ltd. Blue Cross are the promoter of the Blue Cross Raffle which is regulated by the Gambling Commission under legislation laid down in the Gambling Act 2005 (as amended). All profits from the Blue Cross Raffle will be used for the charitable purposes of Blue Cross.
- What is the Blue Cross Raffle?
- Raffle subscriptions
- How does subscription work?
- Subscribing is a great way to make sure you never miss out on a raffle. Your payment will be taken automatically when each raffle launches, meaning all you have to do is hope your luck is in!
- How can I cancel my subscription?
- You can cancel your subscription at any time by contacting the raffle helpline on 01628 511703 or email us on raffle@bluecross.org.uk.
- How does subscription work?
- Payments and winnings
- How are winners drawn?
- Winners are drawn using a random number generator that has been tested and approved by an independent, Gambling Commission approved, third-party test house, meaning draws are completely fair and open.
- How Can I pay for my entries?
- In order to comply with the Gambling Commission regulations, we are unable to accept payment by credit card online for entries. Supporters playing the raffle by post can purchase their entries by debit or credit card, cheque, or postal order. If you have not received raffle tickets in the post, please call the raffle helpline on 01628 511 703. Please note that regardless of entry purchase method, we are unable to accept cash payments or Charity Aid Foundation (CAF) vouchers.
- How many winners will there be?
- There are 102 prizes to be won in each raffle, with a further 50 Fast Entry prizes, so there could be up to 152 different winners. However, people with more than one ticket could win more than one prize in the same draw. Winners will be posted on the winners webpage within 14 days of the draw.
- How do I claim my prize?
- If you’re a lucky winner you will be notified and sent payment by cheque within 21 days of the draw.
- Are my entry payments eligible for Gift Aid?
- Unfortunately due to HMRC rules we are unable to claim gift aid on raffle entries/tickets. However, when entering the raffle you can choose to make an additional donation which will be eligible for gift aid. Or if at any time you’d like to make a donation (which is eligible for gift aid) separately to entering a raffle please visit the Blue Cross website.
- How are winners drawn?
- How funds are used
- How do raffles help fund Blue Cross’s work?
- The money raised by Blue Cross raffles is essential in helping fund our vital work. It helps us to provide veterinary care to sick and injured pets, offer expert behavioural help, and find loving, happy homes for pets in need. It also helps us educate the public on pet welfare, advocate for better legislation and support people who are struggling to cope with the loss of a much-loved pet.
- Shouldn’t the prize money be going towards helping pets?
- All prize money is raised by payments from people playing the raffles. The prizes we give away are a small proportion of the total income we raise, so the pets aren’t missing out. After all, if we didn’t run raffles we wouldn’t have access to that income in the first place. Even better, the more people who join the Blue Cross Raffle the more we’ll be able to help pets who have no one else.
- How do raffles help fund Blue Cross’s work?
- Problems and complaints
- Why haven’t I received my raffle numbers?
- Our email may have ended up in your spam or junk folder, so please check there first. If you still haven’t received your numbers within 21 days of signing up, please call our raffle helpline on 01628 511703 or email us on raffle@bluecross.org.uk and we’ll sort it out.
- I’m struggling to enter the raffle. Where can I get help?
- Call our raffle helpline on 01628 511703 or email us on raffle@bluecross.org.uk and we’ll do our best to help.
- How do I make a complaint about the Blue Cross Raffle?
- The Promoter operates a Complaints and Disputes Procedure. If you have a complaint you can call our raffle helpline on 01628 511703 or email raffle@bluecross.org.uk. If you are unhappy with the way a complaint is resolved you can contact the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS). IBAS acts as an impartial adjudicator on disputes that arise between betting/gambling operators and their customers.
- I think I have a gambling problem, what should I do?
- If you feel you have a problem with gambling please visit the BeGambleAware website for help and advice at www.begambleaware.org or contact The National Gambling Helpline on 0808 802 0133. Lines are open 24 hours a day. For more information please visit our Gambling Support webpage.
- Why haven’t I received my raffle numbers?
