Time for change?
THE UK NATIONAL LOTTERY: WHAT NEXT? FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH of the UK Gambling
Commission’s tender for a fourth National Lottery licence, three operators have placed their hat in the ring to run the UK’s ‘national treasure’. But what can we expect from the three contenders?
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ith the current licence due to expire in 2023, the fourth licence award will build on the success of the National Lottery that has seen it collectively raise over £41bn for 565,000 good causes across the UK since its 1994 launch. This will be achieved through the creation of a framework that maximises the opportunities for players and good causes to benefit from innovation and creativity, whilst protecting the National
68 SBC LEADERS • DECEMBER 2020
Lottery’s unique status. When the tender was launched earlier this year, UK Gambling Commission Chief Executive Neil McArthur disclosed that the new licence holder will gain a ‘greater autonomy’ to meet player demands, but will also become more accountable for the lottery’s performance. “The National Lottery is a national treasure,” he said. “It has a reputation for providing enjoyable games and a high degree of player protection, as
well as a rich history of prize giving and returns to good causes. We are determined to protect and build on the reputation of the National Lottery. “For the fourth licence, we will be evolving our approach to regulation to build on the National Lottery’s huge successes. In line with our outcomesfocussed approach to regulation, we want the next licensee to have greater autonomy to meet the needs of players in 2023 and beyond, whilst ensuring there is clear accountability for the performance of the National Lottery. “Throughout our market engagement, we have been encouraged by a healthy level of interest from a range of different parties and we look forward to running a competitive process.” But what makes the new licence any different from previous years? There will be a few key changes, including a fixed
