A cross-party report from the DCMS Select Committee say the National Lottery must focus on good cause funding and calls for the operator to do more to protect its players from gambling harms.
This report recommends advertising to more prominently feature the link between buying a ticket and supporting good causes. It warns that a lack of awareness could lead to the public not linking the significant positive benefits provided by the National Lottery and therefore requesting increases in prize money.
The report notes the National Lottery's stalling returns to good causes appear to be the result of choices made by Camelot, which has prioritised games that allow it to retain a higher percentage of sales as profit. Disappointingly Camelot failed to make itself available for scrutiny during the inquiry.
The changes recommended in this report would improve the outcomes for all those who benefit from National Lottery funding as well as confidence in their work.
DCMS Committee Chair Julian Knight MP said: “While the National Lottery has become a fixture of British life with millions enjoying its games each week, in recent years the ever more profit-orientated approach of Camelot has hit good causes in the pocket and pushed players towards potentially more harmful forms of gambling.
The next licence period has got off to an inauspicious start with perceived flaws in the competition process leading to a compensation claim which could ultimately short-change charities and other good causes that rely on Lottery funding. The flaws must be fixed for the future.
The Gambling Commission and new operator Allwyn now have the chance to work together to restore the link in the public’s mind between buying a ticket and supporting worthy causes and projects in their local communities. At the same time, there needs to be a proper financial commitment to supporting those at risk of gambling harm.
Without a significant departure from the approach of the outgoing regime, you don’t have to be Mystic Meg to foresee a future where a clamour for big cash jackpots is prioritised over the Lottery’s original purpose to raise money for good causes, while more players are pushed towards gambling products that can seriously damage health and wellbeing.”
