Today, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) revealed that it has imposed a financial penalty on Camelot, which is currently the operator of the National Lottery. The fine is estimated to £3 million.
The Chief Executive Officer of the UKGC Sarah Harrison commented on the regulatory body’s decision, saying that the regulator was mainly concerned about protecting customers’ interests and keeping the integrity of the way the National Lottery was run. Ms. Harrison explained that serious failures had been found in the company’s work, so the fine was massive, too.
The Commission’s boss also explained that although the fine was large, it would not affect the National Lottery’s good causes. In addition, she explained that no evidence for any similar events happening had been found.
The massive financial penalty was brought to account after the UK gambling regulatory authority has thoroughly investigated Camelot due to an allegation filed against the National Lottery operator. The allegations were associated with a fraudulent prize claim which was both made and paid out seven years ago, in 2009. As announced by the UKGC, this became publicly known in 2015, and the matter was brought to the Police and the UK Gambling Commission.
The UK Gambling Commission announced the results of the investigation, which proved that Camelot had violated three main aspects of its operating license – the control imposed by the company to databases and as well as other information sources, the way a certain prize claim is investigated by the operator, as well as the way a decision for a certain prize payment to be processed.
The investigation carried out by Great Britain’s gambling regulatory authority found that it could not tell for sure if there had been a fraud. According to the UK Gambling Commission, there were no systemic failings that would result into questioning other prize payouts. However, there was certainly a problem related to the prize claim in question. The result of the investigation has been accepted by the National Lottery operator that is now expected ton appeal the decision.
Camelot paid the penalty package, estimated to a total of £3 million, including a £2.5-million portion representing the money that would have been headed to good causes in case that the National Lottery operator had not paid the prize claim.
- Author
Daniel Williams
