A Birmingham Lottery could be launched to try and raise desperately needed cash for local services.
City council bosses are looking at the possibility of raising money to underpin services from a weekly or monthly draw.
City leader Mike Whitby said “large prizes” would be available to local people.
Coun Whitby (Con, Harborne) said the idea was in its early stages and no decisions have been taken, but he believes a lottery could raise millions of pounds for Birmingham which would be used to maintain popular services including museums and libraries.
The city council is facing huge financial problems and has to make spending cuts of £330 million by 2015.
Coun Whitby told a meeting of the full city council that he was committed to improving services through the use of innovative fundraising opportunities.
A council spokeswoman explained that a single lottery licence would enable Birmingham to sell £10 million of tickets a year.
A minimum of 20 per cent – £2 million – must be used by the council to fund “good causes”.
