Ministers have been urged to intervene in a legal dispute over the future of the National Lottery amid fears that up to £1billion that could be used for good causes in the UK could end up in the pockets of Canadian teachers.
Camelot, which ran the game for 28 years, is in a High Court battle over the Gambling Commission’s plan to award the 10-year license to another operator.
In March, the Commission named European lottery operator Allwyn – backed by Czech billionaire Karel Komarek – as the preferred applicant for the fourth National Lottery licence.
Camelot is seeking to have the decision overturned and be awarded the licence but the Gambling Commission wants to go ahead and give it to Allwyn before the court rules, arguing to do otherwise ‘poses a significant risk’ of reducing cash going to good causes.
