Gambling Commission searches for the National Lottery’s next operator

The UK Gambling Commission is seeking bidders for the National Lottery, as the current agreement with Camelot is set to end in 2023. 

The Commission wants the next operator to continue improving the lottery by introducing new ideas and innovations while also maximising its potential to help charitable causes.

Camelot has been the only operator since the lottery's inception in 1994. In that time the competition has raised over £38bn for charity. 

Neil McArthur, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, said: "We believe there is significant untapped potential for growth whilst still retaining the principles of being responsible, safe and fair.

"We are looking forward to meeting businesses, investors and interested parties over the next few months to help us to shape an exciting, fair and healthy competition which will take the UK National Lottery into a new era, and ensure it remains one of the biggest and best lotteries in the world."  

It comes on the back of calls from MPs earlier this year to make sure the next licence agreement was more flexible and ensured a "fair return", with the current deal too difficult to make changes following the sharp decline in ticket purchases and a decrease in income.

A report also uncovered that Camelot's profits from the venture had grown from £39m to £71m in the seven years between 2010 and 2017, but funds for charities rose by just two per cent.

Camelot was bought by one of Canada's biggest pension funds for £389m in 2010, named Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, before being given a four-year extension on their deal in 2012.

The costs of tickets increased from £1 to £2 in 2013, the first change since its inauguration. The lottery had sales of £6.9bn last year.