Jowell 'considering' Lotto takeover

Money to good causes has fallen with ticket sales

The government could be prepared to nationalise the National Lottery, according to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, said she was "seriously considering" bringing the Lotto under state control.

She said it was important to prevent money being "creamed off" by the firms running the game.

What matters about the lottery is that it works for the public good, that it represents good value for money and that the minimum amount of money is being creamed off to meet costs

Tessa Jowell
Culture Secretary

But National Lottery operator Camelot has vowed to resist any government moves to nationalise the multi-million pound game.

Lotto sales have been falling and therefore bringing in less money for good causes.

Referring to the option of nationalising the lottery, Ms Jowell told Telegraph: "I am very interested in exploring that possibility. We are seriously considering it.

"What matters about the lottery is that it works for the public good, that it represents good value for money and that the minimum amount of money is being creamed off to meet costs."

A spokeswoman for Camelot said: "We have always known it (state control) is an option and would set out our case as part of any review."

The National Lottery was launched in 1994 and its weekly draws were renamed Lotto in 2002, after sales fell for the third consecutive year.

'Obscene' bonuses

In 1996, Labour threatened to limit its profits amid controversy over what it described as "obscene" bonuses paid to Camelot executives.

The new operator licence was reissued to Camelot in 2001 after a protracted legal process.

The firm took its case to the High Court when the Lottery Commission initially favoured a rival bid from Richard Branson.

In April 2002, Camelot made a £72m gamble by having a huge advertising campaign headed by Billy Connolly and introducing new games.

But ticket sales have fallen by more than 5% since then.