National Lottery operator Camelot has launched legal action against the Gambling Commission after it announced plans to transfer the licence to operate the game to a rival after 30 years. Commission officials said on March 15 that Allwyn, owned by Czech businessman Karel Komarek, was the preferred applicant to take over the venture in 2024.
The decision came after a bidding process between four parties for the licence, which Camelot has held since 1994. In the competition, which the commission said attracted the highest number of candidates, the other applicants were Sisal Spa, Camelot and The New Lottery Company Ltd.
According to court records, Camelot filed a High Court claim against the Gambling Commission on Thursday evening. Camelot chief executive Nigel Railton said the company is bringing the legal action because it “firmly believes that the Gambling Commission has got this decision badly wrong”.
