Allwyn Begins Next Phase of Retail Investment with New National Lottery PPOS Rollout Trial

Brand new National Lottery permanent point of sale (PPOS) has started hitting the walls, floors and counter tops of a small number of National Lottery retailers over the last few weeks, as Allwyn begins testing the rollout of the specially designed kit at trial stores in preparation for wider distribution.

Designed in collaboration with accessibility and sustainability experts, the family of PPOS will help deliver more modern retail environments and capture the attention of customers with eye-catching branding and “call to action” messages, as well as giving National Lottery retailers for the first time the ability to display information about National Lottery-funded projects that are local to their store.

The suite of kit includes an attention-grabbing illuminated Scratchcard dispenser with integrated lighting and 15.6-inch HD screen, and a new Playstation with double-sided graphics and a wing to display key information – such as stories about local National Lottery-funded projects. Completing the collection are a new external wall sign and a double-sided pavement sign featuring a “call to action” to play in store, as well as a refreshed window poster frame. In most cases, these items will be swapped out on a like-for-like basis with a store’s existing kit – but larger or additional assets may be offered in certain circumstances.

Allwyn called on the expertise of its accessibility partner, Purple, and its sustainability partner, Planet Mark, in designing the new PPOS to help with its commitment to delivering a more sustainable and accessible National Lottery. For example, the height of the new Playstation tables has been standardised at a level recommended by Purple (750mm) which is considerate of wheelchair users – as has the Scratchcard dispenser media screen – while the playslips are set at a height within reach of wheelchair users. Graphics and signage, as well as the surfaces they sit behind, have also been designed to meet accessibility requirements.

In terms of sustainability, lightweight designs ensure that the kit and its transportation are carbon-efficient, while recycled and recyclable materials have been prioritised in the manufacture and deployment of the new PPOS – with some components made with 60-100% recycled materials.

The first independent retailer to have the kit installed as part of the “test and learn” trial, Raj Kularajah, owner of Twinsco store in St Albans, said: “I was delighted to be selected as the first independent store to have the new PPOS installed, and to be able to provide feedback on the equipment to help with the wider rollout. After it was first installed, two of my regular customers who had never played the lottery before saw the new kit and decided to play EuroMillions, which is absolutely excellent.

“I’m really impressed with the kit overall, particularly the new Playstation wing which can be fitted to either side of the stand depending on how the store is laid out and what space is available. But my favourite piece is the new Scratchcard dispenser which really brings to life and illuminates the individual games. Its bigger windows also make it easier to load with cards.”

Allwyn’s Director of Channel Operations Alex Green said: “We’re hugely excited that National Lottery retailers are starting to get their hands on this brilliant new kit as part of our ‘test and learn’ trial deployment. As well as looking fantastic, the new PPOS has been designed to high standards of accessibility and sustainability – demonstrating The National Lottery’s commitment to delivering wider societal benefits. We know retailers will be keen to get the kit as soon as possible, but it’s important we trial it first and use our findings to inform a more substantial phased rollout across our 40,000-strong estate. This will help us get the deployment absolutely right for our retail partners.

“The project to equip retailers with the very best National Lottery PPOS also represents the next stage of our investment in retail and signals our commitment to the channel as a whole, with retail being central to our vision to grow The National Lottery responsibly over the next 10 years. But equipping stores with the latest innovative kit is just one element of a much bigger overall project to build a more modern in-store environment. As part of this, we’ll also be delivering an enhanced Vodafone network solution for our retail partners from this spring, and installing new software from the summer onwards ahead of us starting to roll out new state-of-the-art terminals towards the end of the year.”

The next phase of the PPOS rollout will see the new kit deployed in around 40 stores by the end of May, with another 10,000 outlets scheduled to receive the new PPOS later in the year. The kit will then be rolled out to the remainder of the estate throughout the autumn and into 2025.