The UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published a new report that outlines a number of possible changes put forward by UK National Lottery operator Camelot in order to improve activities in the UK’s lotteries market.
Published following a recent Committee hearing, the report contains details of how the government and UK Gambling Commission view the lottery sector.
The document also contains confirmation that products that amount to betting on the outcome of a lottery could face future regulation, which would close a loophole in the Gambling Act that lottery operators in the UK say is being exploited.
In the report, Camelot issues a call for three actions to take place in order to improve the UK lotteries market and help cut out confusion amongst players.
Camelot suggests a prohibition of betting on lotteries either online or in shops, a loophole that allows operators to offer bets on the EuroMillions draw as promoted in other countries be closed, and a ban on bets on the National Lottery be extended to all lotteries licensed in the UK.
In addition, Camelot has called for improved clarity in marketing in order to help reduce consumer confusion.
The operator noted that some high street bookmakers are including the term ‘bet’ in the name of products based on the outcome of lotteries.
Camelot said all products that offer bets on lotteries or lottery-type draws should only be marketed on the basis that they were bets and should include the word ‘bet’ in their title, while preferably not using ‘lotto’ or ‘lottery’ or similar wording.
Camelot also suggested redefining all bets on lotteries as ‘pure lotteries’, which would fall within the definition of both betting and lotteries as outlined in the Gambling Act 2005.
Meanwhile, Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in the UK, has appointed a number of new gambling commissioners that will help oversee regulatory processes in the UK market.
Alison Hastings, who currently serves as a non-executive director and vice-president of the British Board of Film Classification, has been appointed on a four-year term.
Hastings, who is also a Press Complaints Commissioner, will begin her term on May 1.
Trevor Pearce, director of special investigations at the National Crime Agency (NCA) and former director of investigations and economic crime at the NCA, has also been appointed as a gambling commissioner on a four-year term.
Pearce, whose term will commence on July 1, also previously served as director general of the Serious Organised Crime Agency and director general of the National Crime Squad.
In addition, Jonathan Scott, a retiring senior partner and chair at commercial law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, has been handed a five-year term.
Scott, who has experience in the gambling sector and competition law, having advised on mergers within the industry, and of governance and regulation, will begin his term on May 1.
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
