The UK’s Gambling Commission is currently reviewing the performance of lottery operator Allwyn, according to a report in the Times. This scrutiny arises from alleged failures by Allwyn to meet specific contractual obligations as it takes over operations of the UK National Lottery from previous operator Camelot.
A key point of contention, as reported, centers on technical upgrades that Allwyn committed to during its bid to secure the multi-billion-pound UK Lottery contract last year. These promised upgrades, the report suggests, have not been delivered as planned. Allwyn has attributed these delays to a combination of factors, including legal challenges and the unforeseen scale and complexity of the required changes. Consequently, the Gambling Commission is reportedly considering potential enforcement action against the company.
Addressing these developments in its annual report, Allwyn stated: “While Allwyn UK continues to progress as expeditiously as possible while prioritising contributions to good causes, after the end of the reporting period a contractual milestone in the enabling agreement was not reached. The Gambling Commission is reviewing what, if any, enforcement action might be taken against Allwyn UK in relation to that milestone.”
In a comment provided to Gambling Insider, Allwyn further elaborated: “As further context, protecting and maintaining returns to Good Causes at £1.6bn in our first year of operation has been a success and we continue to do everything we can to protect returns. It’s also worth noting that, over the course of the Fourth National Lottery Licence, Good Causes also receive a larger proportion of every ticket sold than under the Third Licence, including through a fixed contribution payable by Allwyn to Good Causes annually. So, we remain confident our plans will deliver on our ambition to double weekly returns to Good Causes from £30m a week to £60m by the end of the licence.”
Read also: UFC Champion Valentina Shevchenko Partners with Stake
It is also relevant to note that Allwyn is presently involved in a legal dispute with media figure Richard Desmond, who is pursuing legal action against both Allwyn and the Gambling Commission regarding the handling of the Fourth National Lottery Licence award process.
In related news, Allwyn recently released its financial results for the fiscal year 2024, reporting total revenue of €8.79 billion ($9.97 billion), an increase of 12% compared to the previous year.
More recently, the company obtained certification from both the European Lotteries and the World Lottery Association. This certification follows recent efforts by Allwyn to enhance its initiatives related to responsible gambling.
