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| Region | |
|---|---|
| First draw | 1994 |
| Operator | Allwyn Entertainment |
| Regulated by | Gambling Commission |
| Highest jackpot | £195,707,000 (EuroMillions) £66,070,646 (Lotto) |
| Odds of winning jackpot |
|
| Number of games | 6 |
| Shown on | BBC (1994–2017) ITV (2018–) |
| Website | www |
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery established in 1994 in the United Kingdom. It is regulated by the Gambling Commission, and is operated by Allwyn Entertainment, who took over from Camelot Group (who had been running the National Lottery since its inception) on 1 February 2024.
Prizes are paid as a lump sum (with the exception of the Set For Life which is paid over a set period) and are tax-free. Of all money spent on National Lottery games, around 53% goes to the prize fund and 25% to "good causes"[1] as set out by Parliament (though some of this is considered by some to be a form of "stealth tax"[2] levied to support the National Lottery Community Fund, a fund constituted to support public spending).[3] 12% goes to the UK government as lottery duty, 4% to retailers as commission, and a total of 5% to the operator,[1] with 4% to cover operating costs and 1% as profit.[4]
Since 22 April 2021, players must be 18 years of age to purchase lottery tickets and scratchcards (online and in-store).[5] Previously, the minimum age was 16.[6]
- ^ a b "About the National Lottery". Gambling Commission. 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ Wilson, Jamie (30 January 1999). "New lottery fund 'not a stealth tax'". London: Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
- ^ The overwhelming case for paying stealth taxes. Archived 29 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Samuel Brittan. Financial Times. 25 October 1999.
- ^ "Camelot Group". Camelotfoundation.org.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
- ^ "FAQ – When will the age of play change come into effect?". The National Lottery. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "Government response to the consultation on the minimum age to play National Lottery games".