Allwyn Takes the Reins: A New Era for the UK National Lottery
The global gaming giant, Allwyn, has formally assumed control of the UK National Lottery, succeeding Camelot. This transition follows Allwyn’s successful purchase of Camelot Lottery Solutions (LS) Group from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board.
Despite the shift in ownership, Allwyn has assured the continuation of the current leadership team at Camelot LS Group. They will be incorporated into Allwyn’s wider UK lottery operations.
This acquisition concludes a protracted and very public contest between Allwyn and Camelot. Camelot, the steward of the UK National Lottery since its 1994 launch, vigorously resisted relinquishing control. They initially disputed Allwyn’s winning proposal for the fourth National Lottery license and even initiated legal proceedings against the Gambling Commission’s determination. Nevertheless, these endeavors ultimately fell short.
The handover to Allwyn represents the first instance of another entity managing the UK National Lottery since its origin. Although Camelot sought to impede the transfer through legal actions, Allwyn emerged victorious. Furthermore, Camelot’s technology associate, IGT, entered the dispute by filing a lawsuit against the Gambling Commission, alleging reputational harm. However, this too proved ineffective. Allwyn’s tenure has commenced.
The global lottery landscape experienced a seismic shift when emerging player, Allwyn, declared its plan to purchase Camelot LS Group, the established manager of the UK National Lottery. This unexpected move surprised many, particularly because Camelot had been competing to maintain its hold on the lottery with a proposal for the upcoming license term.
Further fueling the intrigue, the UK Gambling Commission had previously granted approval for Allwyn’s acquisition earlier in the year. Allwyn’s chief executive, Robert Chvátal, stressed that this merger would guarantee a smooth handover from the current to the subsequent license period, uniting the knowledge of two veteran lottery powerhouses.
