Remote workers entering Euro 2024 sweepstakes could face legal issues, warns expert

Remote office workers who participate in sweepstakes during Euro 2024 have been warned that they could be violating the law, potentially facing hefty fines or even imprisonment.

The tournament kicks off in Munich on Friday evening, with hosts Germany squaring off against Scotland in the opening match. England will then face Serbia in their first game of the competition on Sunday night.

Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate unveiled his squad last week, with notable absences including Manchester City's Jack Grealish, Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and Tottenham's James Maddison.

First-time tournament participants include Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze, Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton and Anthony Gordon. However, the Three Lions will sorely miss centre-back Harry Maguire, who has been sidelined due to a calf injury.

Across the nation, many will be organising a sweepstake, a form of gambling where each person in a group pays a small entry fee and is assigned a competitor before the tournament begins, reports Football London.

Sweepstakes are popular during events such as the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in horse racing, the World Cup/Euros, and even Wimbledon, with a large number of competitors participating in each event.

If a person's chosen team triumphs in the event, they will claim their prize, typically a portion of the money raised by each participant's involvement. While many adults may have participated in such an activity at some point, most are unaware that it could potentially be illegal.

However, Felix Faulkner, a solicitor at gambling licensing firm Poppleston Allen, warns that remote workers could find themselves in hot water if they participate this summer due to the Gambling Act 2005. Implemented in April that year, it shifted the responsibility for licensing gambling from magistrates' courts to local authorities (specifically unitary authorities, and the councils of metropolitan borough, non-metropolitan district and London boroughs) and also established the Gambling Commission - the UK government's gambling regulator.

Essentially, the draw must be conducted in person at the business premises, not online or across multiple offices. This means that if you're working from home, you should refrain from participating unless you can physically go into the office to comply with the Gambling Commission's guidelines on the regulations surrounding fundraising, raffles and lotteries.

A representative from Poppleston Allen stated: "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."