UK government to hold first National Lottery committee hearing
The DCMS’s committee hearing on Camelot’s performance in raising funds for good causes will inform the National Lottery licence competition.
UK.- The British government’s Department for Culture, Media, Sport and Digital (DCMS) will today (Tuesday) host its first committee hearing on the National Lottery amid the ongoing competition for its next licence.
Entitled “What Next for the National Lottery?” the hearing will take oral evidence on the incumbent operator Camelot UK’s performance in raising funds for sports and good causes.
The DCMS said: “The committee is examining the National Lottery licence competition process amidst criticism that the current operators, Camelot, have increased profits at a faster rate than funding for good causes.”
It will also analyse Camelot’s performance regarding gambling-related harm and will investigate “whether there is enough recognition that playing the lottery is a form of gambling”.
Camelot has been criticised heavily on both matters. A 2017 report from the National Audit Office (NAO) found that the amount given to good causes had risen by 2 per cent while Camelot’s reported profits had risen by 127 per cent.
On responsible gambling, Camelot was criticised for not acting more quickly to increase the minimum age for its products to 18.
See also: UK National Lottery good causes revenue falls
A panel of Team GB athletes, including three-time Olympic Gold medalist swimmer Adam Peaty, Paralympic Gold medalist rower Lauren Rowles and Paralympic swimming champion Ellie Robinson will give evidence on lived experiences of National Lottery funding.
Anna Powell-Smith, founder of the Centre for Public Data, and Dr Sasha Stark, a senior researcher at the Responsible Gambling Council, will provide evidence on Camelot’s fundraising performance and responsible gambling duties.
The Gambling Commission has confirmed that it has received four bids for the next National Lottery licence, which will begin in 2024. The bidders are believed to be SAZKA’s Allwyn, the Italian lottery operator Sisal and Richard Desmond’s Northern-&-Shell.
