Remote workers are warned they could face PRISON if they enter into Euro 2024 office sweepstakes

Remote workers who enter office sweepstakes during Euro 2024 could be breaking the law.

The highly-anticipated tournament gets underway in Munich on Friday night with hosts Germany taking on Scotland in the opening fixture.

Office sweepstakes will be commonplace across Europe with as workers seek to maximise their enjoyment of the competition.

Popular particularly in horse racing, a sweepstake is a method of gambling in which each person pays a small amount of money and is given the name of a competitor before a contest. 

If your allotted team makes it all the way you claim the prize, which is usually the financial sum of the money raised by entry.

Most adults will have taken part in one at some point in their life and the majority will never have given the legality a moment’s thought.

However, Felix Faulkner, a solicitor at gambling licensing firm Popplestone Allen, says remote workers could find themselves in trouble if they partake in one this summer.

This is because It’s illegal to be involved in a sweepstake unless you’re there to witness the draw physically, otherwise, it could be a £5000 fine or 51 weeks in prison.

There are a number of guidelines that firms should follow in order to stay in line with regulations.  

All players must work at the same physical office, meaning sweepstakes cannot be run across multiple offices

The draw must be done physically at the business premises – which means if you’re working from home, you can’t participate unless you go into the office to enter.

Entrants must all pay the same price and prize money cannot be rolled on to another game.

The rights attached to the ticket cannot be passed on to another person once purchased

Organisers can deduct reasonable expenses from the proceeds to cover the cost of prizes and tickets

The law for what is allowed is governed by the Gambling Act 2005, with the Gambling Commission publishing guidance on the regulations surrounding fundraising, raffles and lotteries.

A Poppleston Allen spokesperson said: ‘Ultimately, it is a criminal offence to run an illegal lottery and you could face prosecution. The maximum punishment for breaches is 51 weeks in prison or a £5,000 fine.’