In a significant development in the UK gaming industry, the High Court has dismissed a legal challenge brought by International Game Technology (IGT) against the GB Gambling Commission. The challenge was related to the issuance of the fourth UK National Lottery license.
The Dispute Over the Fourth License
The GB Gambling Commission awarded the fourth license to Allwyn in September 2022, a decision that was initially announced in March 2022. This decision had a significant impact on Camelot, which had been the national lottery operator in the UK for nearly three decades.Following the announcement, Camelot, in partnership with its technology provider, IGT, challenged the Commission’s decision in the High Court. Camelot’s CEO, Nigel Railton, was convinced that the Commission had made an incorrect decision and sought to rectify the situation for his company. This resulted in an almost six-month delay in the official issuance of the license, which was finally made official in September.
The Legal Proceedings and Outcome
In early September, both Camelot and IGT decided to withdraw their appeals. However, IGT chose to continue pursuing damages claims in Court. After several months, the UK High Court made the final announcement on July 28th, dismissing the claim. The Court ruled that IGT did not have any legal grounds to pursue damages claims against the UK Commission.The Commission has stated that this marks the end of all processes related to the fourth UK National Lottery license.
The Commission’s Stance on the Licensee Selection
The Commission has maintained that the competition for the fourth license was conducted fairly and that the evaluation was thorough and lawful, in line with their statutory obligations. They believe that they created a “level playing field” for all competitors.The Commission selected the applicant who they believe will best engage and protect the players, run the National Lottery with integrity, and contribute to society through various innovations and investments. The Commission is confident that they have chosen a licensee who will support various good causes.