British government bans EuroMillions sales
News on 30 Nov 2017
News on 30 Nov 2017
The UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced Thursday that it will ban betting on non-UK EuroMillions through a statutory licence condition following a recently concluded investigation.
The ban will likely be welcomed by the UK National Lottery, which has seen stakes decline in recent times (see previous reports), but has already been criticised by re-seller Lottoland, whose CEO Nigel Birrell protested that the decision does not reflect the evidence gathered during the investigation.
“We believe that today’s decision is unjustified, and sets a dangerous precedent for policy-making on the basis of no evidence,” he said. “It will do nothing but stifle innovation in the sector.
Birrell said that a review period would have been a proportionate and responsible way forward that would have allowed for a final decision to be made on real evidence.
“Given the significant impact to our UK business of this decision, we are reviewing all available options before determining our next steps,” he concluded.
The government investigation looked at alleged loopholes in gambling regulations that have made it possible for operators of gambling websites to offer betting markets on the EuroMillions lottery results
In a statement announcing its intentions Thursday, the DCMS said:
“We consider that betting on non-UK EuroMillions draws is contrary to the intention and spirit of section 95 of the Gambling Act and the established principle that operators should not be permitted to offer bets on the National Lottery.”
The statement goes on to specifically claim that there is a risk that allowing the present activity to continue will negatively impact National Lottery sales, and the donations to good causes that flow from these.
“We are mindful of the effect on impacted businesses, and will tailor the licence condition to ensure it is in line with our aims to reduce consumer confusion, and protect returns to good causes in the UK. Betting operators will still be able to offer bets on international lotteries,” the statement advises.
