Holiday lottery rules ‘not clear’
August 10, 2009
National Lottery operator Camelot has been criticised for allowing people to buy tickets online while abroad despite them being unable to win any money. In countries including Spain and the US it is illegal for Britons to play the UK lottery, making their tickets void.
But Camelot’s website does not stop them buying tickets and consumer body Which? said the rules were not clear. Camelot said it does warn people who buy online, but cannot provide a list of countries where playing is banned.
The National Lottery website can be accessed from anywhere in the world, but in much of Europe, for example, local laws bar people from taking part in foreign lottery draws while on holiday there.
Stephen McGlade, from Which?, said Camelot must do more to prevent such situations occurring. Camelot said it sent warning e-mails to its online players several times a year explaining the situation.
Spokesman Rob Dwight said: “We’ve looked at a range of software options over the years and have actually tested them out and we will continue to do so.
“Obviously, the technology in this area is constantly evolving. What we want to do is make sure that people who are entitled to play can play, and those that shouldn’t be playing don’t play.”
Country-specific laws also apply to the EuroMillions draw even though it is a continent-wide lottery. Each country has a separate EuroMillions operator, so it is illegal for a UK national to buy a Euromillions ticket in another country by using the Camelot-run website.
Quotes are from http://news.bbc.co.uk/ where you can get more details
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