90 per cent of retailers check age of lottery ticket buyers – Camelot

Camelot has thanked retailers after it emerged that nine out of 10 retailers in the country selling lottery tickets properly check the age of buyers.

Thanking the retailers for responsible retailing, Camelot revealed that 90 percent of National Lottery retailers visited correctly asked for ID as proof of age on their first ‘Operation 18’ mystery shopping visit – rising to 95 percent for second visits.  

These results come alongside interim findings from a recent player survey that looks at the effectiveness of a relatively new feature on the National Lottery terminals in retail, which allows retailers to print and discreetly give healthy play handouts to players by pressing the ‘Healthy Play’ button on their terminal. If a retailer is concerned about a customer’s playing habits or if a customer asks a retailer for support, the button allows retailers to subtly print a pink ticket – much like a Lotto, EuroMillions, or Set For Life ticket – with details of where support is available, such as through GamCare and The National Lottery’s healthy play webpage. 

Initial survey findings show that 72 percent of National Lottery players who received the handout felt positive about it, and two in five players are going to think about their play after seeing the handout.

Camelot’s Retail Strategy Manager, Guy Goodacre, commented: “With the age to play change from 16 to 18 in April last year, this has been a critical year for The National Lottery – and we can’t thank our retail partners enough for their hard work and dedication every step of the way. 

“From updating all of their in-store POS and reminding customers in the lead-up to the change last year, to showing their ongoing commitment to preventing underage play through these fantastic ‘Operation 18’ results – it’s plain to see that our retail partners are totally committed to responsible retailing.”

The new ‘Operation 18’ mystery shopping programme uses people who are over 18, but who look younger – this is to avoid retailers inadvertently breaking the law during a test visit. 

The revelations came after it was reported that Camelot recently launched a legal challenge after it was issued with a £3.15 million fine by the Gambling Commission for alleged failures linked to its mobile app.