A COUNCIL-RUN lottery could be expanded to Poole and Christchurch after becoming “one of the biggest” of its kind.

BH Coastal Lottery has almost twice as many players as forecast when it was launched in Bournemouth a year ago.

And next week, BCP Council’s cabinet will be asked to approve its expansion into the two neighbouring towns.

The lottery is used in Bournemouth to provide grants to 99 “good causes” in the area.

A report published ahead of Wednesday’s cabinet meeting said the lottery had become “one of the biggest and most successful” local authority-run schemes in the country.

“BH Coastal Lottery has been a considerable success in Bournemouth, exceeding the original expectations for performance and providing a valuable income stream to local good causes,” it says.

“It is proposed that it is expanded across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to allow all ‘good causes’ in the area to benefit from it.”

Sixty per cent of income from the lottery is distributed to approved organisations and projects with the remainder split evenly between prize money and administration costs.

Prizes range from three free tickets for matching two numbers to a £25,000 jackpot.

At its launch in January last year it was predicted there would be 830 people playing it but in the most recent draw there were just under 1,500.

Forecasts were for a gross return of £65,000 but this was also exceeded with £127,000 brought in.

Proposals outlined in the report are that it would be launched in Poole and Christchurch at the beginning of April.

“Since BCP Council formed, a number of ‘good causes’ from Christchurch and Poole have enquired about registering for the lottery in order to benefit,” it adds.

“Due to the current terms and conditions of the lottery they have not been eligible to be approved.”

It estimates that if the lottery was expanded it would lead to the number of players doubling to 3,400 and subsequently increasing the amount of money the council can award.

As a result, cabinet members will be asked to approve the expansion of the lottery to cover the entire conurbation when they meet on Wednesday.