Allwyn, the organization poised to assume control of the UK National Lottery, has formally purchased Camelot Lottery Solutions (LS) Group. This entity was formerly held by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board.
Rest assured, this does not signify a completely new staff is arriving! Allwyn has stated that the existing management at Camelot LS Group will remain in place for the time being. The intention is to incorporate them into Allwyn’s UK lottery activities once the official license handover is finalized.
This acquisition signals the conclusion of a protracted and, frankly, somewhat turbulent period concerning the lottery. When Camelot failed to secure the fourth National Lottery license, they were not particularly pleased about Allwyn’s entry. There were even endeavors to prevent Allwyn from obtaining the license.
This shift in leadership indicates that for the initial time since its commencement in 1994, the UK National Lottery will be managed by a different firm. Camelot had held the reins, securing the first three licenses.
Recall back in 2022 when Allwyn won the fourth license? Camelot did not accept defeat easily. They immediately pursued legal action in the UK courts to attempt to halt the transfer, challenging the Gambling Commission’s determination. This legal dispute ultimately concluded late last year.
However, there’s more! Camelot’s technology associate, IGT, was not prepared to concede either. In January 2023, they opted to sue the Gambling Commission, asserting that granting the fourth license to the Czech-owned Allwyn Entertainment group had tarnished their standing.
The announcement of Allwyn’s offer to acquire LS Group, the organization behind Camelot, surprised many. Camelot, after all, had been competing to reclaim management of the UK’s National Lottery license in the recent past.
The UK Gambling Commission approved the purchase in the beginning of 2023. Allwyn’s chief executive, Robert Chvátal, stated that incorporating Camelot would guarantee a seamless shift from the third license to the fourth and merge the knowledge of two lottery powerhouses.
