Rainbow Lottery raises over £500,000 for LGBTQ+ causes

The Rainbow Lottery has reached a major milestone, surpassing one million ticket sales less than five years after its first draw - a landmark achievement that has generated more than £500,000 for LGBTQ+ good causes across the UK.

Founded to create a sustainable, unrestricted funding stream for LGBTQ+ organisations, the community-led lottery allows players to choose exactly which charity benefits from their £1 ticket. More than 200 causes are now registered, spanning youth services, mental health support, housing initiatives, HIV charities, trans support groups, Pride organisers, and grassroots community projects.

One million tickets show what’s possible when a community comes together.

National and international organisations - including the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Stonewall and the Peter Tatchell Foundation - are among those supported, alongside dozens of local groups working directly with LGBTQ+ people in towns and cities across the country.

In addition to funding vital frontline work, the Rainbow Lottery has awarded more than £130,000 in prizes to players - reinforcing its ethos that supporters can “give back and win” at the same time.

Every ticket costs just £1, with 50p going straight to good causes. According to the organisers, this is one of the highest charity-return rates of any lottery currently operating in the UK.

Co-founder Tom Gattos said the one‑million‑ticket milestone demonstrates the collective strength of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.

“One million tickets show what’s possible when a community comes together,” he said. “£1 at a time, our players have helped fund life-changing LGBTQ+ work across the UK - and that’s exactly what the Rainbow Lottery was created to do.”