The UK Gaming Authority has refuted allegations that it is supporting lottery operator Camelot’s application for the fourth UK National Lottery permit.
In response to a story in the Daily Telegraph, the Gaming Authority stated the report was “untrue.”
The article asserted that Camelot, which has held the National Lottery permit since its beginning in 1994, would be granted “preferred bidder” status by the Gaming Authority.
This would imply that the Gaming Authority had already endorsed Camelot to secure the bid for the fourth UK National Lottery permit. The process commenced in August 2020, with Allwyn (formerly the Sazka Group), health lottery operator Northern & Shell, and Italy’s Sisal all vying to replace Camelot. If Sisal (which is on the verge of being acquired by Flutter Entertainment) were to prevail, it would mark the first instance of a private operator running the lottery.
The article claimed that Camelot achieved the highest score on the criteria used to evaluate each bid, and that its scorecard had allegedly been submitted to Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.
However, the Gaming Authority statement declared that the process was not yet concluded and that these claims were false.
We are still examining the situation, and today’s piece in The Daily Telegraph is entirely inaccurate. It’s filled with falsehoods,” they stated. “We’ve requested they remove the article from their online platform.”
“Our mission is to create the most exceptional competition imaginable – one that’s equitable, transparent, and yields the best outcomes for participants and charitable endeavors. The board of directors will render the final verdict and inform the government once they’ve reached a conclusion.”
The victor was slated to be revealed in September 2021, but due to postponements, they might unveil it later this month or in March.
In August 2021, the Gambling Commission granted the lottery enterprise a six-month extension on their permit, extending it to February 2024. This signifies that the new entity will assume control thereafter.
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