Minister fro Tech and the Digital Economy (): The Gambling Commission has
today announced the outcome of its competition to run the 4th
National Lottery licence, covering the 10-year period from 2024
to 2034. In accordance with relevant legislation, this decision
has been made by the Gambling Commission’s Board. DCMS and
Ministers have not been involved in the decision making process.
Today’s announcement marks an important moment in the history of
the National Lottery, which has raised over £45 billion for good
causes across the United Kingdom since its launch in 1994. The
National Lottery has made over 660,000 individual grants to
communities and to the arts, heritage and sports sectors. In
recent years this included over £1.2 billion to support the UK’s
Covid response and recovery.
The 4th National Lottery licence competition was launched by the
Gambling Commission in August 2020. Following extensive market
engagement, the Commission received four final applications to
operate the licence - the highest number since the first licence
was awarded in 1994. Following a thorough evaluation process, the
Commission has chosen Allwyn Entertainment Ltd. as the preferred
applicant to operate the licence and Camelot UK Lotteries Ltd. as
the reserve applicant. Pending a legal standstill period, which
will last for at least 10 days, Allwyn Entertainment Ltd. will be
confirmed as the incoming licensee and will, following the
signing of an Enabling Agreement, work with the Commission to
ensure a smooth transition from the 3rd to the 4th licence, which
will operate from 1 February 2024. The details of the
Commission’s announcement can be found [here(opens in a new tab)].
The award of the 4th National Lottery licence is made under
provisions in the National Lottery etc. Act (1993). That
legislation sets out the roles and responsibilities of the
Government and the Gambling Commission and gives the Commission
the power to award the licence to run the National Lottery. It
also enshrines the principles underpinning the UK’s National
Lottery: That it be run with due propriety, that the interests of
all players be protected and that, within these parameters,
returns to good causes are maximised. These principles are at the
heart of the 4th licence, which will see operator profits more
closely aligned with good causes than under the 3rd licence,
while also continuing to hold the operator to account for
protecting players and maintaining the highest standards of
propriety.
This award does not change the principles governing the
distribution of funding to good causes across the UK, which is
the responsibility of 12 public bodies acting as National Lottery
Distributors, as set out in legislation.
