UK National Lottery operator heavily fined by Gambling Commission

Camelot, the operator of the UK National Lottery is in hot water again, this time being fined GBP 3 million by the UK Gambling Commission regarding allegations of a fraudulent prize claim back in 2009.

In an announcement Friday the Commission revealed that Camelot had breached its operating licence, flagging three key problems with its controls relating to databases and other information sources; the way it investigated a prize claim; and its processes around the decision to pay a prize.

The only positive bright spot was a finding by the Commission that the breaches were specific and not systemic.

Camelot has already paid the fine and accepted the Commission’s findings, the announcement revealed; the fine will be directed to good causes it advised.

A spokesman for Camelot emphasised that the offences were not related in any way to The National Lottery draws, adding:

“It only concerns the controls that were in place at the time to prevent a fraudulent claim on a deliberately damaged ticket – and is limited to a unique incident alleged to have taken place over seven years ago.”

Camelot said it notified the Commission and got in contact with the police as soon as the allegation was brought to the company’s attention in late 2015, and has co-operated fully with both of them ever since.

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