Our mandate

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The National Lotteries Board (NLB) was established in terms of the Lotteries Act (No 57 of 1997) to regulate the National Lottery as well as other lotteries, including society lotteries to raise funds and promotional competitions.

The NLB also advises the Minister of Trade and Industry on policy matters relating to the National Lottery and other lotteries.

Members of the NLB are appointed by the Minister of Trade and Industry and hold office for a period of five years, after which they may be reappointed.

The NLB does not adjudicate applications for funding or make allocations to organisations. This is done by committees known as distributing agencies which are also appointed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, in conjunction with other relevant Ministers, after a process of public nomination. The NLB provides administrative support to the distributing agencies.

The NLB’s mandate is described in more detail below.

Functions

Section 10 of the Lotteries Act specifies that the NLB shall fulfil the functions listed below as listed below in a manner that is open and transparent:

• Advise the minister on the issuing of the licence to conduct the National Lottery;
• Ensure that the National Lottery and Sports Pools are conducted with all due propriety ;
• Ensure that the interests of every participant in the National Lottery are adequately protected;
• Ensure that the net proceeds of the National Lottery are as large as possible;
• Administer the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) and hold it in trust;
• Monitor, regulate and police lotteries incidental to exempt entertainment, private lotteries, society lotteries and any competition contemplated in section 54;
• Advise the Minister on percentages of money to be allocated in terms of section 26(3);
• Advise the Minister on the efficacy of legislation pertaining to lotteries and ancillary matters;
• Advise the Minister on establishing and implementing a social responsibility program in respect of lotteries;
• Administer and invest the money paid to the board in accordance with the Lotteries Act;
• Perform such additional duties in respect of lotteries as the Minister may assign to the board;
• Make such arrangements as may be specified in the licence for the protection of prize monies and sums for distribution; and
• Advise the Minister on any matter relating to the National Lottery and other lotteries or any other matter on which the Minister requires the advice of the Board.