Lotto Betting Group calls forth DCMS to suspend plans to block betting on EuroMillions

The UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) was called forth by the Lotto Betting Group to suspend plans to block betting on EuroMillions.

DCMS promulgated in November that it would halt betting on non-UK EuroMillions by means of a statutory licence condition, bringing such draws in sync with the existing prohibition on betting on UK National Lottery draws.

However, the ruling came after the government announced in March that it would consult with stakeholders over a loophole that has allowed gambling websites to offer betting markets on the EuroMillions draw.

The Lotto Betting Group took part in this initial process, saying there was no “econometric evidence to support the claim that betting on non-UK Euromillions draws is having any statistically significant impact on UK EuroMillions tickets sales”. This group comprises WorldLottery Club, Lottoland, Jackpot.com, and Multilotto.

But after the November ruling, the Lotto Betting Group has now written to the DCMS asking it to suspend the legislative process, which would introduce this restriction by April 6.

The letter asserted that the condition prohibiting betting on non-UK EuroMillions relating to Article 56 on the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union is “contrary to that Article”.

The group also said the decision was “irrational, or unreasonable for the Secretary of State to impose a licence condition prohibiting betting on EuroMillions draws”.

In view of this, the Lotto Betting Group adds: “The Lotto Betting Group believes that the decision to prohibit betting on non-UK EuroMillions draws was unjustified and was based on inconclusive evidence. This belief has been supported by the recent publication of the National Audit Office report, which confirms that the fall in National Lottery income for good causes in 2016-17 was due to a move away from National Lottery draw-based games to Instant games and not as a result of lottery betting. Instant games have a lower return to good causes, which led to the decline. The letter before claim asks the DCMS to suspend the Parliamentary approval process.”