In the United Kingdom and the Gambling Commission regulator has announced that it has formally awarded the Allwyn UK subordinate of European lotteries giant Sazka Group with the ten-year license to operate the country’s National Lottery franchise until February of 2034.
The watchdog used an official press release to detail that the move comes some two weeks after the service’s current operator, Camelot Group, dropped its legal appeal against losing out on the license it has held since the lottery debuted in 1994. The regulator noted that this claim had earlier prevented it from formally awarding the next National Lottery franchise or signing any of its associated preparatory transition arrangements.
Ensuing delay:
The Gambling Commission explained that it was then required to wait until Camelot Group’s technology partner, International Game Technology (IGT), decided whether it wanted to pursue the larger lottery appeal. However, the regulator disclosed that this latter firm has now agreed to drop the matter entirely to leave it free to formally award the next National Lottery franchise to Allwyn UK.
Embargo reversal:
Andrew Rhodes serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the
Gambling Commission and he used the press release to divulge that his organization then awarded the license to Allwyn UK only after the Appeals Court followed the concessions from Camelot Group and IGT in cancelling a July injunction against the implementation of any allied ‘enabling agreements.’ The experienced figure pronounced that his organization has now begun meetings with the current and coming National Lottery operators so as ‘to ensure a seamless and timely transition to the next licence for the benefit of participants and good causes’.
Read a statement from Rhodes…
“We are pleased to have officially awarded the fourth licence to Allwyn UK following a highly successful competition and the court’s decision to lift the suspension on the award process. We now look forward to working with all parties to ensure a smooth and efficient handover.”
Assured optimism:
The Gambling Commission described the National Lottery as ‘one of the world’s largest lotteries’ that has generated more than £46 billion ($52 billion) historically for in excess of 670,000 charitable causes across the United Kingdom. The regulator moreover asserted that these efforts have transformed many lives and it is now ‘confident’ Camelot Group will ‘honor its obligations as the current licensee’ and cooperate in transitioning the operation of the state-sanctioned service to Allwyn UK.
The statement from Rhodes read…
“I am confident that Allwyn UK and the key changes for the fourth licence will maximize returns to good causes, promote innovation, deliver against our statutory duties and ultimately protect the unique status of the National Lottery.”