A billionaire with business links to Russian energy giant Gazprom is set to be handed control of Britain’s National Lottery.
The Gambling Commission has chosen Allwyn, owned by Czech tycoon Karel Komarek, as its “preferred bidder” to operate the lottery licence from 2024.
The decision is a blow to Camelot, which has run the National Lottery since its launch in 1994, and chief executive Nigel Railton said it was considering its “next steps”.