Camelot denies selling tickets to censured overseas lottery operator

Camelot this week denied that it is supplying National Lottery tickets to a company which claims to have an arrangement to buy the tickets before selling them across Europe.

The European Lottery Guild (ELG), which markets lotteries across international borders, says it buys tickets in bulk from Camelot on behalf of players in European countries: “We pick them up directly from Camelot,” says ELG spokesman Mike Hillman. This could enable a non-UK player to scoop one of the weekly jackpots.

ELG operates from Canada and sells foreign lotteries in the UK – which the Gaming Board has said is of “questionable legality” (MW January 17).

But Camelot has denied any involvement with ELG, and warned overseas players to beware of companies offering them the chance of participating in the National Lottery.

Camelot says it disapproves of the ELG operation: “It may be more expensive, there is less player protection, and there are few restrictions on under-16s. In terms of the transfer of ownership of tickets, Camelot could refuse to pay the prize.”

ELG spokesman Mike Hillman adds: “We offer Camelot tickets to people outside the UK and they do quite well. Camelot is fully aware of what we do.”