National Lottery licence winner Allwyn acquires rival Camelot

Allwyn, Europe’s leading lottery operator and the winner of the fourth licence of UK’s National Lottery, said it has secured an agreement with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board to acquire Camelot UK Lotteries Limited.

Camelot, which has held the lottery licence since its inception in 1994, has lost to Allwyn in the bid for next licence, scheduled to start in February 2024.

Upon completion of the acquisition, Camelot will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Allwyn. The company said Camelot will continue to be operated separately, in accordance with the terms of the third licence of the National Lottery.

Allwyn said its ownership of Camelot will help facilitate a smooth transition as it is currently working with both Camelot and the Gambling Commission on its transition plan for the fourth licence.

“Allwyn and Camelot share a common goal: a passion to protect and improve the UK National Lottery, and the good causes it celebrates. Common ownership of the operators of both the third and fourth licences will help ensure the successful delivery of the National Lottery both in 2023 and over the next decade,” Robert Chvátal, Allwyn chief executive, said.

“Allwyn is committed to making the National Lottery better, raising more for good causes and improving player protection. This deal strengthens the transition process and helps support Allwyn in achieving its vision for the National Lottery.”

Nick Jansa, executive managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Ontario Teachers’, said: “We are proud to have been a strong supporter and partner of the National Lottery over the past 12 years. In that time, under Camelot’s stewardship The National Lottery has raised more than £20 billion for good causes and has supported thousands of organisations across the United Kingdom.

“We believe this sale best positions the National Lottery for a smooth transition to the fourth licence operator and wish Allwyn every success. I want to express my sincere thanks to Camelot’s management and employees for their tremendous efforts in successfully running the National Lottery over the last decade, including achieving record revenues to good causes in the last year.”

The Gambling Commission has formally awarded the fourth National Lottery Licence to Allwyn in September, following the decisions by Camelot and gaming company IGT to withdraw their respective appeals against the regulator’s choice of Allwyn as the preferred applicant to run the National Lottery from 2024.

The acquisition is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approvals, including from the Gambling Commission.