Remote workers warned of Euro 2024 sweepstake risks: Potential jail time and fines explained

Euro 2024 is set to kick off in Munich on Friday evening, with Germany and Scotland going head-to-head in the opening match. England's first game against Serbia is scheduled for Sunday night.

However, remote office workers who are planning to participate in sweepstakes during the tournament have been warned that they could be breaking the law and may face hefty fines or even imprisonment.

Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions boss, announced his squad last week. Notably absent from the line-up were Manchester City's Jack Grealish, Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, and Tottenham's James Maddison.

Newcomers to the tournament include Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze, Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton and Anthony Gordon. However, the team will sorely miss centre-back Harry Maguire, who has been ruled out due to a calf injury.

Sweepstakes, which involve each participant paying a small entry fee in return for the name of one competitor before the start of the tournament, are a popular form of gambling across the country. They are particularly common during events such as the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in horse racing, the World Cup/Euros, and even Wimbledon, given the high number of competitors participating in each competition.

If a participant's chosen team clinches the victory in the event, they can claim their prize, typically a portion of the money raised through everyone's participation. While many adults have likely participated in such an activity at some point, most probably haven't realised that it could potentially be illegal.districts

Felix Faulkner, a solicitor at gambling licensing firm Poppleston Allen, warns that remote workers might find themselves in hot water if they join in this summer due to the Gambling Act 2005. This act, introduced in April of that year, 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.

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

A spokesperson for 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."