The acting lottery watchdog, John Stoker, has given GTech 17 days to prove it is "fit and proper" to be involved in the Camelot consortium running the national game.

The move follows a libel trial that ended February 2 which effectively determined that GTech's then-chairman and founder Guy Snowden, had offered a bribe to Richard Branson.

Immediately after that court decision, Mr Snowden resigned from GTech. Mr Stoker says he is satisfied that although Mr Snowden retains a 1% shareholding in GTech he is no longer involved "in any material way" in the company.

He also noted in his statement Friday that no evidence had been put forward during the trial that the rest of the board of GTech had been involved in the attempted bribe, and no GTech officials had been found guilty of wrongdoing in the US "in the furtherance of GTech's interests."

Nonetheless, he has expressed continued concerns and has given GTech until March 9 to give him evidence in support of its fitness and propriety to be involved in the lottery.

Disgraced ex-GTech boss, Guy Snowden

"I have noted the gravity of the fact that Mr Snowden as Chairman and Chief Executive of the company, offered a bribe to Mr Branson; and the view expressed by Mr Branson and others that he did so as the company's "alter ego"; and the continuing concern about some of GTech's apparent business practices in the United States."

He also stressed that anyone with any evidence of improper behaviour by GTech or any other person involved in the lottery should come forward.

GTech said it would cooperate fully. William Y O'Connor, the new chairman and chief executive of GTech Corporation, said he "welcomed" the enquiry and added: "We are confident that GTech's role in the ongoing success of the United Kingdom's National Lottery will be reaffirmed through this process."

GTech's morale may be boosted by Thursday's ruling in Texas by lottery chiefs there that it could continue running the state lottery despite allegations of poor value for money.
 

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