The UK’s National Lottery operator Camelot’s licence has been extended by four years and it is to invest millions of pounds in expanding the number of outlets across the country.
Following the news that the National Lottery Commission has agreed to the company’s proposal to raise additional funds for good causes over the next 11 years, Camelot confirmed it would increase the number of outlets by a further 8,000.
These are to be located in areas of the UK where the company has identified the maximum level of untapped demand for its products.
Camelot’s licence will now run until 2023.
“The decision is good news for National Lottery players, good news for our new retail partners – and good news for society as a whole,” said Andy Duncan, managing director of Camelot UK Lotteries.
The company estimated that the licence extension would allow it to deliver £1.7bn in additional lottery funding to society by 2023.
“With charities and foundations throughout the country anxious about future funding, an extra £1.2bn in National Lottery Good Causes alone over the next 11 years will be life changing to people and communities the length and breadth of the UK,” continued Duncan. “I’m delighted that we’ve been given the opportunity to raise even more money for National Lottery Good Causes. The extension of our licence makes such a significant expansion of our retail estate economically viable and will allow us to build on our very successful track record as operator of The National Lottery.”
Camelot has experienced an increase in competition from the recently launched Health Lottery, which combines 51 separate society lotteries from across the UK.
In a letter sent to the Gambling Commission, the company criticised what it perceives to be the “continuing failure to take regulatory action” against this new lottery, the Independent reports.
