UKGC pours cold water on Camelot licence renewal reports
Regulatory body denies licence holder has been named as preferred candidate following Telegraph report
The UK Gambling Commission has moved to quash reports suggesting that incumbent licence holder Camelot has been selected to continue operating the National Lottery.
Earlier this week, The Telegraph reported that the UKGC had awarded the fourth National Lottery licence to Camelot which would see the Canadian firm maintain its position as licence holder since the National Lottery’s inception in 1994.
However, the UKGC has dismissed the report, stating that its contents were based on “false and inaccurate information”.
The UKGC said: “Our job is to run the best competition we possibly can – one that is fair and open, and results in the best outcome for players and good causes.
“The board of commissioners make the final decision and will inform the government when the final decision is made.
“We are still in the process of evaluation and today’s [10 February] Daily Telegraph piece is simply based on false and inaccurate information. We have asked them to remove the article in its current form from the newspaper’s website.”
The Telegraph has yet to remove the article, with the report noting Camelot is set to be awarded “preferred bidder” status by the UKGC.
The report noted the UKGC had passed its recommendation on to the Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, with a formal decision due to be made later this month.
The race for the fourth National Lottery licence has been hotly contested, with Camelot rivalled by Allwyn, Sisal and Northern & Shell.
Flutter CEO Peter Jackson recently called on the regulator to support a last-minute bid by Sisal, with Jackson penning a joint letter with Sisal CEO Francisco Durante.
“The Gambling Commission should have no doubt as to Flutter’s commitment through Sisal to the future success of the lottery,” he wrote in his letter to the Commission.
Flutter moved to acquire the current SuperEnalotto concession holder in December 2021, ostensibly becoming part of Sisal’s National Lottery bid following the deal.