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We grant licences for each game, or class of games, promoted as part of the National Lottery. Lotto, EuroMillions, Thunderball, LottoHotPicks,
EuromillionsHotPicks, Set For Life, Scratchcards and Interactive Instant Win Games all have their own licences.
We awarded Camelot a ten year licence to run the National Lottery, starting in 2009. In March 2012 this was extended by four years. This licence is called the Section 5 licence.
Over this 14 year period we will amend our regulatory regime where appropriate, including the terms of the licence, to do the following:
- cut bureaucracy
- give Camelot more freedom
- better protect Lottery players and the money they raise for good causes.
The Section 5 licence requires Camelot to submit information and policies to us for approval. You can see these decisions in Approvals, consents, variations, disapplications and waivers.
Definition of terms for Section 5 licence decisions
Approvals
Some provisions of the licence require Camelot to submit information or issues to us for approval. For example, their Strategy to prevent underage play. The licence generally requires Camelot to seek our approval if the issue might have an impact on the National Lottery that we need to understand.
Consent
Similar to the process for approval, we agree to allow Camelot to pursue a course of action.
Variation
We make a permanent change to a licence provision. Some licence provisions can only be changed with Camelot’s consent. In other cases we can impose a variation. Reasons for making a variation include:
- a change in circumstances which means the licence doesn’t regulate Camelot as it should
- there is a lack of clarity about what is required
- if Camelot acts in a way we feel is inappropriate and which we wish to regulate in future.
Waiver
We excuse Camelot from its obligation to comply with a licence requirement in one particular set of circumstances.
For example, Camelot has to have a retailer in every postcode district that has more than 2000 residents. Camelot is unable to do so if there are very few retailers in that district and those that are there refuse to take a National Lottery terminal. In such cases we can waive the licence obligation insofar as it applies to that area.
Disapplications
We aim to remove regulatory burdens where Camelot has a strong proven track record. A disapplication means that we have removed one of the obligations on Camelot from the licence.
For example, it is no longer required to display U16 notices in shops. It’s not a variation because we can, if we consider it appropriate, reinstate the provision as it was originally set out in the licence.
Approvals, consents, variations and waivers also apply in relation to the licences to individual National Lottery games. To date there have been no disapplication of individual game licences.
