Allwyn Named UKGC’s Preferred Applicant for Lottery Licence
The National Lottery could have a new operator in 2024 after the Gambling Commission officially named Allwyn the preferred franchise applicant this week. Current franchise owner Camelot has been named as the “reserve applicant”.
Allwyn in Lottery Driving Seat © Pixabay.
Camelot’s long tenure as the operator of the National Lottery could be coming to an end after rival Allwyn Entertainment was named the preferred applicant by the UK regulator.
The Gambling Commission (UKGC) said Allwyn’s promised investments would mean “growth and innovation” in the lottery, leading to increased contributions to good causes.
Camelot has been the only company licenced to run the National Lottery in the UK since the first draw was held in 1994. And while the lottery has been popular with the public in the UK, creating over 6,000 new millionaires, it has also been a vital source of funding for many good causes.
In the 28 years the lottery has existed, the National Lottery has raised more than £45bn. In addition, a percentage of each ticket sale has gone toward 660,000 charitable causes.
Another beneficiary of lottery funding has been UK Sport which funds UK athletes. Hundreds of millions of pounds have been paid by UK Sport, and this investment has enabled British athletes to compete at the highest levels.
British athletes have earned more than 100 gold medals since the funding model was changed in the early 1990’s.
Camelot has survived three tendering processes before (the first licence: 1994 – 2002, the second licence: 2002 – 2009 and the third licence: 2009 – 2019). They even lost out to Richard Branson’s The People’s Lottery for the 2002 tender but won a court case over discrimination and ultimately carried on with the franchise. And the havoc caused by the coronavirus saw the UK government extend Camelots licence until 2024.
As the regulator, the UKGC have four overriding statutory duties:
- To ensure the National Lottery, and every lottery that forms part of it is run and promoted with all due propriety.
- To ensure the interests of every participant in a Lottery are protected.
- Subject to the above two duties, to do our best in making sure that the net proceeds of the National Lottery are as great as possible.
- To uphold the integrity of lottery betting sites.
Andrew Rhodes, Gambling Commission Chief Executive Officer, said: “In its lifetime, the National Lottery has raised more than £45 billion for good causes and is rightly seen as a great national asset.
“Our priority was to run a competition that would attract a strong field of candidates. Having received the most applications since 1994, it is clear that we’ve achieved just that.
“I am confident that the success of the competition will lead to a highly successful fourth licence – one that maximises returns to good causes, promotes innovation, delivers against our statutory duties, and which ultimately protects the unique status of the National Lottery.
“We look forward to working with all parties to ensure a smooth handover.”
John Tanner, Gambling Commission Executive Director and Senior Responsible Owner for the competition, said:
“The Commission is grateful to all four applicants for their engagement in the competition. We were impressed by the overall standard of applications, including the range and quality of innovation proposed, and the high level of confidence and ambition demonstrated for the prospects of the National Lottery under the fourth licence.”
