A Scottish minister has urged the UK government to scrap the annual charity lottery sales cap to help increase the amount that can be raised for good causes.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, social justice secretary for the Scottish Government, has written to Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, calling for the change.

Charity lotteries raise money for local, national and international causes through ticket sales but the sales cap means that charities can raise no more than £50m a year for these causes.

“As the difficult economic climate has made it harder for charities to raise funds, while also increasing the need of the communities they serve, the cap on charity lottery sales is only serving to restrict the positive impact they could have in raising money for good causes,” Somerville said.

“The UK government should undertake a review of the cap and consider the huge difference that lifting it could bring to lives and communities across the country.”

The Lotteries Council, which represents about 500 lottery operators who raise more than £420m a year for good causes, has long been advocating for changes to the rules. It said in June that removing the £50m limit would free up an additional £175m for charities over the next parliament.

The People’s Postcode Lottery is a member of the Lotteries Council and has supported Somerville’s letter.

Clara Govier, managing director of the People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “The charity lottery sales limits are causing increasing difficulties for charity fundraising at a time when charities need these vital funds to respond to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

“Charity lotteries exist to benefit society, yet have sales limits in place which do not apply to any other type of gambling product, and ultimately make raising funds for charity more difficult.”

Govier said removing charity lottery sales limits would cost the Treasury nothing but benefit many charities.

“We welcome the Scottish Government’s call for these outdated sales limits to be removed, and urge the UK government to take action,” Govier said.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been contacted for comment.