Money Moral Dilemma: Should I keep the money I won playing a charity lottery?

JustGemini

If you are feeling guilty, then perhaps give a third back to the charity & enjoy the rest... follow your heart!

SaffronSB

I don't do charity lotteries for this exact reason - I'd just donate it back! I do direct donations instead. The upside of direct donations is they can be gift aided so the charity gets 25% more than I give. For the fun of a little flutter, I buy a National Lottery ticket each week. If I won on that, I'd enjoy the money guilt-free - although I'd probably give some of that to a charity too! Oh well!

Callydosh700

I agree you should accept your prize and enjoy your good luck. We all need a little boost now and again. Charities make far more than they pay out in prizes as it's a good way to attract donors like yourself (and me). They compensate for giving out prizes and their lotteries are over and above normal donations.

yorkie22

Don't feel guilty about spending it on yourself. You have ploughed all the other winnings back in which was lovely on your part. If you really want to do something then give them £50 and treat yourself, we all need a treat now n again and you deserve it. Enjoy it. 

CoolCat57

The lottery is always the winner. Donate if you feel better doing so, but they already have had a win, by selling all the tickets.

Hunter_Willis_2

Keep it as a bonus for all your donating efforts!

C_Cat

I felt exactly as you do when I won (not as much as your win, but enough) via a charity lottery but I did eventually decide to keep the money because, although I do have DDs set up with various Charities, I had never won anything before, despite entering charity raffles for years.  Plus, I was really down in the dumps and the win enabled me to treat myself to a pamper day.  Don’t feel guilty.  It’s not as if you’re just taking - you do donate regularly too!  And, as others have said, the Charity will have received far more than the prize money you’ve won, by running the raffle and will have accounted for the winnings to be paid out.  

THV

As other people have said they allow for the winnings - so keep it. Donate some back if you want to.

jaxsmar

Donate some but go and have some fun with it or treat someone that maybe having a rough time. Enjoy 

primrose_penguin

To be honest I cannot understand why you do the lottery if you feel guilty taking the winnings. They would not run them if they were not making money. I do not do lotteries but donate to a couple of worthwhile Charities whenever I can afford it. In this case if you feel uncomfortable taking the £1,500 just donate a portion of it to a genuine local cause. A friend of a friend of mine works for a well known Charity and they go abroad on holiday paid for by the Charity, so I certainly would not feel guilty taking the money when you win. I also agree with SpicyLentils post.