Allwyn UKs head, Justin King, voiced his dismay at the recent developments surrounding the granting of the fourth National Lottery permit.
Yesterday, the UK Gambling Commission (GC) revealed that the Court of Appeal reversed an earlier judgment to lift an automatic stay. This hold, implemented on June 29, 2022, barred the GC from officially bestowing the license upon Allwyn.
Both Camelot and IGT contested the High Court’s ruling to remove the suspension, seeking its reinstatement. The Court of Appeal agreed with them, much to King’s chagrin. This verdict means the suspension endures until the appeals process concludes.
The appeal hearing is anticipated to occur during the week of September 12th. In its most recent announcement, the GC reaffirmed its position throughout these legal proceedings, stating that “interruptions to the execution of Allwyn’s blueprints could yield substantial repercussions for both the National Lottery and charitable organizations.”
Mirroring this sentiment, King, Allwyn UKs chairman, remarked: “This judgment is disheartening, as it will probably lead to further postponement since the appeal won’t be heard until September. It is now highly probable that there will be a holdup to the Fourth License, which will undoubtedly affect the charities that depend on the financial support.”
“Following the court’s decision, Camelot and IGT are now obligated to furnish security for costs by 4 pm on Friday.”
They strongly encouraged the inclusion of charitable support within the updated strategies or advocated for upholding Justice O’Farrell’s ruling to benefit both philanthropic organizations and the National Lottery. Such action would eliminate postponements and enable the Gambling Commission to proceed with granting the fourth permit to Allwyn.”
