Optimising Your Charity Lottery With Online Lottery Software
If you’re a fundraising manager, you know that running a successful lottery isn’t just about picking a lottery service provider or a platform and hoping for the best. It’s about ensuring the partner and platform you have chosen enables you to put your supporters first so that they have the best possible supporter experience. In turn, this will drive your sustainable income.
So, when you’re reviewing your charity weekly lottery and exploring the best online lottery software to use, what should you really be looking for?
This blog explores the essentials of choosing online lottery software that’s right for you.
Why Does the Right Online Lottery Software Matter So Much For Charities?
Firstly, let’s consider why choosing the right online lottery software is important. The Gambling Commission report that “there has been a switch in behaviour from in-person to online lottery ticket purchases,” a trend which is only set to rise. And with user expectations from online platforms growing, it’s now more important than ever to have the right charity lottery service and software behind your programme. Here’s some of the other key reasons why you want to think about the platform you’ll be using.
- It shapes the supporter experience—from sign-up to winning moments.
- It determines how easy (or hard) your onwards admin will be.
- It impacts compliance, security, and therefore your reputation.
- It increases the income you can raise.
With so much at stake, and a chance to further increase income, it’s worth taking a step back and considering what really matters.
Key Considerations for Optimising Your Lottery Programme
1. Supporter Experience: Make it Seamless and Engaging
Ask yourself:
- Is the sign-up process quick and intuitive?
- Can supporters choose their own numbers, payment methods, and manage their accounts easily?
- Is the platform accessible on mobile and desktop, and does it meet accessibility standards?
- Are communications (thank yous, winner notifications, updates) automated and personalised?
Look for platforms that offer flexible payment options (Direct Debit, card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay), and real-time engagement tools like choose your own numbers – there’s nothing like being able to include the birthdays of your nearest and dearest to make you feel good about playing a lottery.
Supporters will likely be signing up for your lottery on a mobile device such as a phone or tablet. Ensure that the platform you’re using is built for mobile-first usage to ensure the supporter experience is positive at the outset.
And once they’re signed up? A frictionless, engaging supporter journey is proven to boost retention and lifetime value. Does the software you’re using help you reduce your admin time by automating communications to the right supporters at the right time?
2. Data and Reporting: Insights That Drive Growth
Consider:
- Does the online lottery software provide real-time dashboards and customisable reports?
- Can you easily export player, financial, and draw data?
- Are there analytics tools to help you understand supporter behaviour and campaign performance?
Data-driven decision-making is key to optimising acquisition, retention, and income. Platforms that integrate advanced analytics and benchmarking can help you spot trends and act quickly. For instance, can you see whether there are peaks in attrition? This will help you plan your stewardship activity more accurately.
You’ll also want your wider team to be able to access the information they need instantly. Does the platform allow your wider team such as finance, supporter services and data, to access the information they need without having to learn a whole new system? Read how Hospice at Home Cumbria chose a system that does just that in this case study.
3. Compliance and Security: Fundraise with Confidence
Ask:
- Is the platform fully compliant with Gambling Commission RTS requirements?
- Are payments processed securely (PCI DSS Level 1, ISO 27001)?
- Is personal data handled in line with GDPR?
Compliance isn’t just a box-ticking exercise—it protects your charity, your reputation and, most importantly, your supporters. Look for providers with dedicated compliance teams and transparent processes.
4. Admin Efficiency: Save Time, Reduce Risk
Think about:
- How much manual admin will your team need to do?
- Are supporter queries handled by the provider, or do they fall to you?
- Can you bulk upload data and automate routine tasks?
Efficient admin means more time for strategy and supporter engagement activities. The best platforms automate payments, draw management, and communications, and offer dedicated support teams to handle online and offline enquiries on your behalf.
5. Flexibility and Growth: Future-Proof Your Programme
Ask:
- Does the platform fit your needs and budget for today?
- Is there opportunity to grow and migrate to other platforms as you grow and develop your lottery?
- Can you customise prize structures, draw frequency, and supporter journeys?
- Is it easy to add bonus draws, superdraws, or integrate with other fundraising activities?
- Does the provider offer strategic consultancy and ongoing support?
Your lottery should be able to grow with your ambitions. You might need something that ‘just works’ for when you start up your lottery. And when you get to a certain size or are looking to dramatically scale up, you’ll want a more flexible, scalable platform.
Either way, you’ll be looking for expert support to help you innovate and maximise income in your prize-led programme.
What Does Great Online Lottery Software Look Like?
In summary, you’ll be looking for platforms that deliver:
- Supporter-centric websites with a seamless experience that reflect your charity brand
- Multiple payment options for flexibility
- Automated admin and compliance management
- Real-time reporting and actionable insights
- Personalised, automated, supporter communications
- Strategic consultancy and data analytics
- Dedicated account management and technical support
- Proven results in income growth and supporter retention
Bringing it All Together: Woods Valldata's Approach
If you’re ready to take your lottery programme to the next level, Woods Valldata offers a suite of online lottery software solutions—Affinity, Aspire, and Advantage Lottery—designed to meet the needs of charities regardless of your size, budget or lottery experience. With over 25 years’ providing exceptional prize-led solutions, market-leading compliance, and a focus on supporter experience and strategic growth, Woods Valldata can help you optimise your lottery for maximum impact.
Want to learn more? Visit our Lottery Services page or get in touch for a free consultation to choose your perfect fit lottery.
