(qlmbusinessnews.com via uk.reuters.com — Tue, 15th Mar 2022) London, UK —
Britain on Tuesday named Czech group Allwyn Entertainment as its preferred applicant to run the National Lottery, replacing Camelot which has held the licence since its inception in 1994.
The decision means Allwyn, run by Czech businessman Karel Komarek and previously known as Sazka Entertainment, will hold the licence for 10 years until 2034.
“The selection of Allwyn as Preferred Applicant follows a fair, open and robust competition which received four applications at the final stage,” the Gambling Commission said.Report ad
“Allwyn has committed to investment in the National Lottery that is expected to deliver growth and innovation across the National Lottery's products and channels, resulting in increased contributions to good causes, subject to the protection of participants and propriety.”
Allwyn set up a UK arm to bid for the licence and it is chaired by Keith Mills, a key figure behind London's hosting of the 2012 Olympics, while retail executive Justin King and tech entrepreneur Brent Hoberman are on the advisory board.Report ad
Britain launched the National Lottery in 1994 to help raise income for charities and to fund elite athletes.
Camelot was awarded the first three licences for the lottery with the most recent one due to expire in February 2024. It was named as the reserved applicant should any problems emerge in finalising Allwyn's licence.
Since its launch, the National Lottery, one of the world’s largest lotteries, has raised more than 45 billion pounds ($59 billion) for 660,000 good causes and created more than 6,300 new millionaires, the Commission said.
Camelot is owned by Canada's Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.
Allwyn said it welcomed the news, saying its proposal was judged to be the best way of growing returns to good causes by revitalising the National Lottery in a safe way.
“The appointment of Allwyn will breathe fresh life into the National Lottery,” it said in a statement. “We will immediately work to deliver our comprehensive transition plan and look forward to transforming the National Lottery, making it better for everyone.”
Earlier this month, Komarek issued an open letter to “the people of the United Kingdom” in which he addressed media reports about another of his companies' links to Russian state natural gas company Gazprom following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which he said was a “senseless act of aggression”.
“I took the decision many years ago to divest and exit from Russian assets with the exception of a shareholding in a gas terminal, which we have been trying to exit for a number of years, and a 50/50 joint-venture with Gazprom on an underground gas storage facility in the Czech Republic,” Komarek said.
He said there were ongoing discussions with the Czech government on how to remove Gazprom from that joint venture.
Reporting by Michael Holden and Jan Lopatka
