National Lottery Archives

The Gambling Commission wants Allwyn UK to set the benchmark for National Lottery player protection, despite data showing the lottery remains one of the lowest risk gambling products in Great Britain. Acting chief executive Sarah Gardner delivered the message at the second Allwyn Participant Protection Conference on October 1, following a year that brought a major technology upgrade, new games and additional digital safeguards. Good to Know National Lottery participation reached 31 percent in the latest Gambling Survey for Great Britain data. Allwyn introduced new online and app player protections during its 2026 technology upgrade. The National Lottery generated £1.7 billion for good causes over the latest published 12 month period. High Participation Brings Higher Expectations National Lottery games attract far more players than most other gambling products. Some 31 percent of survey participants had played National Lottery games during the previous four weeks. Scratchcards reached 11 percent, while online instant win games reached 6 percent. Gardner said low risk does not remove the need for safeguards, particularly for a product used by millions of people. “But we can never rest and nor should we – we expect Allwyn and the National Lottery to be at the forefront in terms of determining and demonstrating best practice when it comes to protecting players – and indeed that is a key tenet within the Fourth Licence regulatory framework.” Public trust also remains central to the regulatory approach. Gardner warned that trust “can quickly turn if things go wrong” and said “trust forfeited is never easy to win back.” Allwyn completed the largest technology upgrade in National Lottery history at the beginning of 2026. The work created the platform for new games while adding protections for everyone using the National Lottery website or app. Allwyn has also committed to improving support for customers at risk of gambling harm in retail locations. The Commission has since approved several new games and product changes, including Powerball. Regulators continue to require Allwyn to monitor gambling harm risks and intervene when higher risk play appears. The Participant Protection Conference also covered neurodiversity, product design and player understanding, areas Gardner linked directly with reducing gambling harm. Phil Walker Takes Over During National Lottery Changes The conference came less than a month after Phil Walker became interim chief executive of Allwyn UK on September 7. He replaced Andria Vidler after previously holding senior roles at William Hill, including UK and Ireland Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer. Gardner welcomed Walker and thanked Vidler for her work with the regulator, saying Vidler “was always committed to transparent and collaborative engagement with me and with the Commission as a whole.” Allwyn entered the Fourth National Lottery Licence period with a wider plan to modernize digital and retail operations while increasing returns for good causes. Over the latest published 12 months, National Lottery games produced £1.7 billion for good causes across the UK.

National Lottery

UK Gambling Commission Wants Allwyn To Lead On National Lottery Player Safety

UAE Launches Its First Regulated National Lottery

IGT Extends Contract to Supply Core National Lottery System as Allwyn Takes the Reins