Gaming - DDCMS publish response to society lottery reform consultation
2019
On Tuesday (16th July) the Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport (DDCMS) launched a consultation regarding the minimum age for playing the National Lottery ahead of the competition to run the 4th National Lottery licence.
Since the award of the third National Lottery licence in 2009, there have been changes to the gaming landscape. Technological changes and the general growth in online gaming coupled with mobile platforms (apps) has changed the way the public interact with the National Lottery. In addition, certain sectors of the National Lottery offer such as Instant win games (eg scratch cards) , now make up an increased proportion of total National Lottery sales.
This has prompted the DDCMS to ask the question whether the availability of all National Lottery games to those under 18 remains appropriate.
The three options being consulted up are:
Option 1 - Do nothing, retain the minimum age of 16 for all National Lottery games
Option 2 - Raise the minimum age to 18 for National Lottery instant win games (i.e. scratchcards and online instant win games)
Option 3 - Raise the minimum age to 18 for all National Lottery games
The government have also published an impact assessment around the various options above.
The consultation will run until midday on 8th October. Online response can be made here.
We shall keep you updated.