UK national lottery review to give public more say in how funds are spent

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy launches consultation on first changes to system in more than two decades

The government is to review the future of the national lottery for the first time in more than 20 years as the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, promised to give the public a greater say in how billions of pounds raised by ticket sales is spent.

“The national lottery is played by millions of people every single week. It is not just public money, it is literally the public’s money and they must be in the driving seat of how it is spent,” said Nandy.

“But for two decades no government has asked people how they want their money to be spent. Decisions are made hundreds of miles from communities who know best and favour larger organisations who can meet the needs of the system, rather than bending the system to work for the small, grassroots organisations who are the lifeblood of our communities.

“This government is determined that will change. With this consultation we are bringing people back into the conversation. They will write the next chapter in the story of the national lottery and of our country.”

The 12-week consultation will examine how the money raised from ticket sales should be distributed.

The lottery has collected more than £53bn for good causes since 1994, when nearly 22 million people tuned in to watch the first televised draw in a special primetime event hosted by Noel Edmonds .

The right to operate the franchise was held by Camelot until 2022, when Allwyn, which is ultimately owned by the Czech billionaire Karel Komárek, won the 10-year licence after a competition process that has spawned a series of lawsuits.