How to Stop Unwanted Lottery Marketing Emails and Messages

ByManu George

You can want marketing to stop without wanting to engage with another offer. Start by identifying the sender and communication channel. An email subscription, SMS messages and app notifications may have separate controls.

Source review: 13 October 2026. This guide focuses on reducing unwanted contact. Legal rights and complaint routes vary by country; the regulatory example below is UK-specific.

Distinguish a known sender from a suspicious message

For a recognised organisation, use its genuine unsubscribe mechanism or independently verified contact route. If the message appears fraudulent, do not follow its links or send documents to “confirm” an opt-out. Use your messaging service’s report or block controls instead. Our unexpected prize-message guide covers checking suspicious claims.

State which contact you want stopped

Check the wording of an opt-out: does it cover only email, or other channels too? The ICO’s electronic-mail marketing guidance explains that an opt-out can be channel-specific. Under the UK rules it describes, organisations must respect withdrawal of consent or the applicable opt-out.

You can adapt this wording for a verified organisation: “Please stop sending me direct marketing by email, SMS and telephone, and confirm the channels covered by my request.” Include only the contact identifier needed to locate your preferences, not a password, payment code or identity document.

Use a short action log

  • Record the sender and the email address or number receiving messages.
  • Note the date, time and channels named in your request.
  • Save the confirmation or case reference.
  • If further messages arrive, record their dates and whether they are promotional.

For example, an email confirmation on Monday followed by a promotional text on Wednesday may indicate that only email preferences changed. That is an illustration, not a conclusion about a particular business. Ask the sender to clarify the scope.

Phone controls and sender preferences are separate

Turning off notifications addresses what appears on your phone. It is not a substitute for telling an organisation to stop using your contact details for marketing. Likewise, filtering a message out of your inbox does not confirm that the sender changed its records.

Why might an organisation retain an opt-out record?

The ICO recommends a suppression or “do not contact” list to avoid contacting people who objected. A limited record of your opt-out is therefore different from permission to keep promoting offers. Ask what information is retained and why if the explanation is unclear.

If marketing continues

Contact the organisation through a verified route with your original reference and a few dated examples. If unresolved, check the relevant privacy or communications authority’s complaint process for your location. Avoid uploading an entire private inbox when a small set of examples explains the problem.

Stopping marketing, closing an account and seeking gambling support are separate needs. If messages are making it harder to stop gambling, do not wait for a marketing complaint to finish before seeking help. See our responsible gambling and support page.

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