The current holder of the operating licence for the UK National Lottery – Camelot – faced a legal setback earlier this week because a London judge decided not to side with the company’s request to fast-track legal proceedings against the country’s gambling regulator.
On April 19th, a High Court of Justice of England and Wales judge said that rushing out the legal proceedings against the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) over the watchdog’s decision to grant the fourth National Lottery operating licence to Allwyn would not be the right thing to do. According to Judge David Waksman, it would be inappropriate for the High Court to consider expediting two lawsuits faced by the UKGC at this point before the automatic license suspension issue is resolved.
As Casino Guardian previously reported, Camelot, the gambling group that has been holding the National Lottery operating permit since 1994, challenged the UKGC decision regarding the new NL licence in court following the completion of the watchdog’s decision-making process. In mid-March, the regulatory body announced that it had decided to favour Camelot’s major competitor – the Czech Republic’s gambling group Allwyn.
A separate case against the UK Gambling Commission was filed by International Game Technology (IGT), the technology supplier of Camelot’s services, to protect the interests of its business partner.
Camelot Sues the UKGC Over Recent Choice of Allwyn as Holder of the Fourth National Lottery Licence
Judge David Waksman made a commentary on the suggestion by the legal counsel of the current National Lottery licence holder that a fast-track trial should be given a go in case the High Court rules that a new competition for the operating permit should start. He explained that the beginning of a trial in two months would be rushed and unfocused, and would lead to inappropriate pressure on the parties.
The High Court Judge also commented on Camelot’s complaints associated with the delays to the procurement process which the UK gambling regulatory body has allegedly been responsible for and which put pressure on the timetable. Judge Waksman noted that punishing the UKGC by making “unfair and inappropriate” orders was not part of his job in a case management hearing.
A third procurement claim has also been filed against the UK Gambling Commission by Northern & Shell and its subsidiary the New Lottery Company, both owned by the British publisher billionaire Richard Desmond. The claims have been filed over the watchdog’s decision for the National Lottery’s operating permit but Judge Waksman refused to comment on the case, saying that the claim was confidential and not necessarily linked to other claims.
The High Court judge scheduled a court hearing on the NL licence in three weeks. The UKGC has asked the court to lift a suspension on the regulator’s right to transfer operations from the current to the newly-chosen licence holder of the National Lottery. If the court rules in favour of the gambling watchdog, Camelot and International Game Technology will have the right to only seek damages and the court ruling would not affect the Commission’s decision on the licence holder.
- Author
Olivia Cole
