The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has granted European lottery group Allwyn the license to operate the National Lottery, marking a significant development as the Fourth National Lottery License takes effect on February 1st.
Over the next 10 years, the Fourth License will lead to an increase in ‘Returns to Good Causes’ whilst keeping the National Lottery safe to play, the commission said in a statement.
The National Lottery is one of the world’s largest lotteries and since launching in 1994, players have raised more than £48 billion ($60.6 billion at current exchange rates) for more than 685,000 good causes across the UK, positively impacting lives and contributing to the arts, sport, heritage and communities.
Allwyn has committed to investment in the National Lottery that is expected to deliver growth and innovation across its products and channels, expected to result in increased contributions to good causes subject to the protection of participants and propriety, the statement said.
Key changes for the Fourth License include a new ‘Incentive Mechanism’ that means all National Lottery products will make Returns to Good Causes at the same level. It also means that Allwyn will only see profits rise if Returns to Good Causes go up.
“This is a historic moment, the first time the National Lottery has changed operator and the Commission is pleased to have reached this milestone. The Fourth License by design will mean more of every pound spent on the National Lottery will go to Good Causes whilst still making sure it is safe to play,” Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, said.
“The National Lottery celebrates its 30th birthday this year and in that time it’s made a huge impact on the UK. Everyone at the Commission is committed to moving forwards with Allwyn and Government to make the Fourth License a big success for players and for the Good Causes that rely upon it up and down the country,” he added.
“The Commission is grateful to colleagues at both Allwyn as the new operator of the National Lottery and Camelot as the outgoing operator for their work to get us to this point successfully,” John Tanner, Gambling Commission Executive Director and Senior Responsible Owner for the Fourth National Lottery License competition, said.
“Many people, especially at the Commission have already worked extremely hard to make sure that the next ten years of the National Lottery are even more successful and I would like to thank them for that.”
