Allwyn Acquires Camelot Lottery Solutions in Surprise Move
The firm selected to manage the UK’s National Lottery, Allwyn, has formally acquired Camelot Lottery Solutions (LS Group). Previously, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan held ownership of Camelot LS Group. This purchase signifies the conclusion of a protracted and heated dispute between Allwyn and Camelot, the UK National Lottery’s operator for nearly three decades.
Camelot had contested Allwyn’s victory of the fourth National Lottery license through legal means but ultimately retracted its legal actions. Nevertheless, IGT, Camelot’s technological associate, initiated a lawsuit against the Gambling Commission in January 2023 concerning the determination.
This shift in administration signifies that for the initial instance since its commencement in 1994, a company other than Camelot will oversee the UK National Lottery. Allwyn has affirmed that the leadership structure of Camelot LS Group will persist and be assimilated into Allwyn’s UK lottery activities.
Few anticipated the unexpected maneuver by Allwyn, who unveiled their intention to acquire LS Group, the entity that owns Camelot. This revelation followed Camelot’s tenacious battle to retain control of the UK’s National Lottery, a contract they were ultimately denied.
The UK Gambling Commission granted approval for the acquisition in the early months of 2023. Robert Chvátal, the top executive at Allwyn, expressed his view that incorporating Camelot would be mutually beneficial. He emphasized that it would guarantee a seamless handover from the third lottery license to the fourth, merging the proficiency and technological prowess of two well-established lottery powerhouses.
