Camelot is facing the prospect of losing its gambling licence after 28 years as the UK’s national lottery operator, owing to a decision by the Gambling Commission to select rival Allwyn as a better choice to take over.
In 2024, the Czech company Sazka is expected to acquire Allwyn from Camelot, making it Europe’s largest lottery firm.
The Gambling Commission added: “Allwyn was chosen as the preferred applicant in a fair, open, and stringent competition that received four applications at the conclusion stage.”
“The Gambling Commission is happy that the national lottery’s applicants are good and suitable to run it. “We are pleased to announce that no application is subject to sanctions in connection with the Ukraine conflict.”
Allwyn, in conjunction with the other bidders, has promised to give £38 billion to worthwhile causes during the next decade, almost matching Camelot’s £45 billion in funds since it began operating the national lottery in 1994.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has confirmed that the Ontario and Calgary offices of Camelot, which has approximately 1,000 employees, have been selected. It also means that, in the event of a disagreement over who should obtain the prize, “the lottery would continue to operate with any remaining options,” according to an anonymous source cited by The Sunday Times.The National Lottery is one of the biggest gambling alternatives in the UK, as just in 2020 over 27% of Brits have participated in it.