Scottish Charity No. SC050592 Gayfield, Edinburgh
18+ only Play responsibly Gambling support 24/7: 0808 8020 133
SAFE Supporting Armed Forces leavers into employment

The SAFE Lottery

A weekly charity lottery that helps people leaving the Armed Forces into work. £1 an entry, three guaranteed winners every Friday, for players aged 18 and over.

Play for a good cause

The SAFE Lottery is run by SAFE, a volunteer-led Scottish charity (SC050592). Every entry helps fund training courses and support that give serving soldiers and service leavers the skills to move into civilian work, and helps us support veterans, their families and bereaved relatives.

Each week, three entries are drawn at random from every valid entry in the draw. There is no need to choose numbers or check a ticket: we tell winners automatically and pay prizes straight to their bank account.

1st prize
£100

every week

2nd prize
£25

every week

3rd prize
£10

every week

At a glance

Price
£1 per entry, per weekly draw
Draw
Every Friday at 8pm (UK time)
Prizes
£100, £25 and £10, guaranteed every week
Entries
1 to 5 entries per person per draw
Payment
Monthly Direct Debit or annual debit card payment. No credit cards.
Who can play
Adults aged 18 or over living in England, Scotland or Wales
Results
Published on Our winners by noon each Saturday
Promoter
SAFE, Scottish Charity No. SC050592, Gayfield, Edinburgh EH1 3NW

Where your £1 goes

Our target for every £1 entry, once the lottery is fully established:

SAFE's charitable work
50p
Prizes
35p
Running costs
15p

Running costs include payment processing, age and identity checks, and secure data storage. By law at least 20p in every £1 must go to our charitable purposes. Because prizes are fixed, the exact split varies with the number of entries; actual figures are reported in our annual accounts.

Join the SAFE Lottery How it works Lottery rules

How it works in four steps

  1. Sign up

    Complete the short form. We confirm you are 18 or over and live in Great Britain.

  2. Get your numbers

    Each entry is given its own unique six-digit lottery number, which stays yours for as long as you play.

  3. Weekly draw

    Every Friday at 8pm, three entries are chosen at random from all entries that have been paid for.

  4. Automatic prizes

    Winners are told by email and paid by bank transfer within 14 days.

18+

Responsible gambling

The SAFE Lottery exists to raise money for people leaving the Armed Forces, not to make money from people who are struggling. Here is everything you need to play safely, and where to get help if gambling is causing you or someone you know a problem.

Worried about gambling? Talk to someone now, free and in confidence.
National Gambling Helpline, 24 hours a day: 0808 8020 133 Live chat at gamcare.org.uk. You do not have to give your name.

Age limit: 18 and over only

  • You must be 18 or over to play. The legal minimum age for society lotteries in Great Britain under the Gambling Act 2005 is 16. SAFE has chosen 18, in line with the National Lottery (18+ since October 2021) and other online gambling.
  • We check the name, address and date of birth of every new player and may ask for a copy of a passport, driving licence or other proof of age and address at any time.
  • No prize is paid until we are satisfied the winner is 18 or over.
  • If we find that a player is under 18, we close the account, treat every entry as void, refund all money paid and do not pay any prize.
  • Parents and carers: use parental controls and blocking software on devices your children use, and keep your bank cards secure. Free advice is available from BigDeal and Fast Forward.
  • To report suspected under-age play, email [email protected].

Keeping it fun: our golden rules

  • Think of your ticket as a donation to SAFE with a small chance of a prize, not as a way to make money.
  • Only spend money you can afford to lose. Never use money meant for rent, bills, food or debts.
  • Never borrow to play. We do not accept credit cards; payments are by Direct Debit or debit card only.
  • Decide your budget in advance and stick to it. Do not buy extra entries to "win back" money.
  • Keep a balance: gambling should never get in the way of work, family or friends.
  • Avoid playing when you are stressed, low, or have been drinking.

Tools SAFE gives every player

Entry cap

No one can hold more than 5 entries per weekly draw (£5 a week). This keeps spending low by design.

Spending limit

Set a lower limit when you join, or reduce it at any time. Reductions apply from your next payment; increases only after a 7-day cooling-off period.

Take a break

Pause your entries for 1, 3 or 6 months. No payments are taken and you will not hear from us about the lottery during your break.

Self-exclusion

Exclude yourself for 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or 5 years. We cancel your entries, refund any advance payments, stop all lottery marketing and will not accept a new account from you during that time. Self-exclusion cannot be reversed early.

To use any of these tools, email [email protected] from the address on your account, or write to SAFE Lottery, Gayfield, Edinburgh EH1 3NW. We act on requests within 2 working days and confirm in writing. You can also cancel your Direct Debit directly with your bank at any time.

Is gambling becoming a problem? A quick self-check

Thinking about the last 12 months, ask yourself honestly:

  1. Have you spent more on gambling than you could really afford?
  2. Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts to get the same feeling of excitement?
  3. Have you gone back another day to try to win back money you lost?
  4. Have you borrowed money or sold anything to fund gambling?
  5. Have you felt you might have a problem with gambling?
  6. Has gambling caused you stress, anxiety or other health problems?
  7. Have other people criticised your gambling, even if you thought they were wrong?
  8. Has gambling caused money problems for you or your household?
  9. Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?
  10. Have you hidden your gambling from family, friends or colleagues?

If you answered "yes" to any of these, it is worth talking to someone. Call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133 at any time, or self-exclude from the SAFE Lottery straight away.

Worried about someone else?

Signs can include unexplained money problems or borrowing, secrecy about phone use or spending, mood swings, missing work or family events, and chasing losses. Around one in seven calls to the National Gambling Helpline comes from someone affected by another person's gambling. Support is there for you too: call 0808 8020 133, contact Gam-Anon on 0370 050 8881, or speak to Citizens Advice Scotland on 0800 328 1131. If the person plays the SAFE Lottery, you can tell us in confidence and we will review their account.

Free, confidential support in the UK

  • National Gambling Helpline (run by GamCare)Free, confidential advice and support for anyone affected by gambling, including family and friends. Advisers can refer you to free treatment near you anywhere in Great Britain. 0808 8020 133 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Live chat at gamcare.org.uk
  • GamCare ScotlandFree one-to-one and group support in Scotland, including in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Lanarkshire, and outreach in the Highlands and Islands. [email protected] gamcare.org.uk
  • Citizens Advice Scotland Gambling Support ServiceFree, impartial advice for people in Scotland whose money, home, work or relationships are affected by gambling. 0800 328 1131 Citizens Advice Scotland
  • RCA TrustFree, confidential gambling counselling and group programmes delivered across Scotland. rcatrust.org.uk
  • Gamblers Anonymous ScotlandPeer support meetings, in person and online, for people who want to stop gambling. 0370 050 8881 24-hour helpline gamblersanonymous.org.uk
  • Gam-AnonSupport meetings for the partners, relatives and friends of people who gamble, held separately from Gamblers Anonymous. 0370 050 8881 gamanon.org.uk
  • Betknowmore UKPeer support, one-to-one and group sessions from people with lived experience of gambling harm. betknowmore.co.uk
  • NHS supportIn Scotland, speak to your GP or call NHS 24 on 111. NHS inform has self-help information on gambling. In England, the NHS runs specialist gambling clinics you can refer yourself to. NHS 24: 111 nhsinform.scot nhs.uk gambling support
  • Gordon MoodyResidential and online treatment programmes for people most severely affected by gambling. gordonmoody.org.uk

Blocking tools

  • GAMSTOPFree national self-exclusion scheme that stops you using online gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed by the Gambling Commission in Great Britain, for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. gamstop.co.uk
  • Blocking software: Gamban and BetBlockerInstall on your phone, tablet and computer to block access to gambling websites and apps. BetBlocker is free. GamCare can provide Gamban licences free of charge. gamban.com betblocker.org
  • Your bank's gambling blockMost UK banks and card providers let you block gambling payments on your debit card in their app, often with a cooling-off delay before the block can be removed. Check your banking app or call your bank

GAMSTOP covers online gambling businesses licensed by the Gambling Commission. As a small society lottery registered with our local council, the SAFE Lottery runs its own self-exclusion scheme, described above. If you have registered with GAMSTOP and want to be excluded from the SAFE Lottery too, tell us and we will apply the same period.

Help with money and debt

If you are in crisis

  • SamaritansIf you are struggling to cope or having thoughts of suicide, you can talk to Samaritans at any time, free. 116 123 24/7, free from any phone [email protected]
  • Breathing Space (Scotland)Free, confidential phone line for anyone in Scotland feeling low, anxious or stressed. 0800 83 85 87 breathingspace.scot
  • PAPYRUS HOPELineUKConfidential support for people under 35 who are having thoughts of suicide, and for anyone worried about a young person. 0800 068 4141
  • Emergency servicesIf you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. 999

Young people, parents and educators

  • BigDeal (GamCare's young people's service)Information and support for young people affected by their own or someone else's gambling. bigdeal.org.uk 0808 8020 133
  • Fast Forward: Scottish Gambling Education HubFree resources and training for parents, schools and youth workers in Scotland on gambling and young people. fastforward.org.uk
  • YgamEducation and resources to help parents and professionals protect young people from gambling and gaming harms. ygam.org

Regulation and your rights

  • The SAFE Lottery is a small society lottery under the Gambling Act 2005, registered with the City of Edinburgh Council as licensing authority. Small society lotteries are limited to ticket sales of £20,000 per draw and £250,000 per calendar year.
  • At least 20% of the proceeds of every draw must go to SAFE's charitable purposes; our target is 50%. We publish the results in our annual accounts, which are available on the Scottish Charity Register.
  • All entries cost the same (£1), every entry has an equal chance, and the draw is random.
  • General information about gambling regulation is available from the Gambling Commission. To complain about the SAFE Lottery, see our complaints procedure.