Earlier this week, it was reported that the National Lottery decided to remove its online £10 Instant Win Games because of some concerns associated with problem gambling and gambling-related harm.
As disclosed by The Telegraph, a 2020 research held by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) suggested there could be a link between gambling addiction and higher-priced games. After that, these games were withdrawn from sale.
Reportedly, the National Lottery, which is currently run by Camelot, has doubled its income generated from such games in just a couple of years. Online punters lost £750 million on such games offered by the National Lottery. As suggested by the TV presenter Dermot O’Leary, the public could be spending £50 on so-called Instant Win Games on a weekly basis, which, according to experts, could be addictive to gambling.
Figures cited by The Telegraph show that the income generated by the National Lottery from its Instant Win Games rose five times in ten years. Currently, these games account for one-tenth of all sales of the National Lottery.
As mentioned above, in 2020 the UK gambling regulator held research into the online games offered by the Lottery. As a result, within four weeks after the gathered data and evidence had been taken into consideration and assessment, £10 Instant Win Games were withdrawn from the market.
Camelot Says Instant Win Games Feature Very Low Risk of Gambling Addiction
The decision for the removal of the games comes after the UKGC revealed it had found proof there was a link between problem gambling and £10 scratchcards in 2019, a finding that also resulted in the withdrawal of the scratchcards from sale.
The Instant Win Games that the National Lottery started offering in 2005, differ from standard lottery tickets that are considered a gambling product bearing a lower risk. Punters access and play such games as video games on their computers or mobile phones after setting up an account with the National Lottery. A total of 42 Instant Win Games that feature cost per spin or play from 50p to £5 have been offered by the National Lottery.
All games that cost £5 are still available for the National Lottery’s customers to choose from, despite Camelot and the UKGC removed Instant Win Games that cost £10 due to a higher risk of customers developing problem gambling behaviour.
As The Telegraph revealed, at the beginning of the week, some gambling addiction experts and Members of Parliament criticised the National Lottery, accusing it of running what they called a “National Casino”. At the time, they raised a red flag, saying that the National Lottery should cease operation of these games that have been claimed to be quite addictive and are known to be able to cause harm to more vulnerable people.
Camelot rejected claims that any of the games offered by the National Lottery are addictive and could result in gambling-related harm for players, explaining that these games are very different from regular gambling and feature a very low risk of problem gambling.
The National Lottery has faced this wave of criticism at a time when its operator Camelot aims at keeping its operating licence that is set to expire in 2023. The UK gambling watchdog is expected to officially reveal its selected candidate to run the National Lottery in September 2021.
- Author
Olivia Cole
