Allwyn UK Hosts First-Ever National Lottery Participant Protection Conference

_{Allwyn delivers a milestone event. (Image: Allwyn)}

Allwyn UK has staged the first-ever Participant Protection Conference for The National Lottery, a milestone event focused on safeguarding players while responsibly growing the iconic brand.

The one-day conference, titled “Protecting Lottery Participant Interests: Where Next?”, was held in London and brought together thought leaders across gambling regulation, technology, and behavioural research.

A Focus on Safer Growth

Andria Vidler, CEO of Allwyn UK, opened the event by reaffirming the company’s commitment to participant protection as central to its growth strategy.

 “Protecting participants is a topic that is at the heart of our transformation plans and central to our growth strategy,” Vidler said. “It explains how we can confidently grow The National Lottery responsibly.” 

Allwyn aims to double weekly returns to Good Causes from £30 million to £60 million by the end of its 10-year licence, which began in February 2024.

This growth, Vidler explained, will not come at the expense of consumer safety. Instead, the company is banking on innovation, transparency, and shared best practices to evolve The National Lottery’s role as a safe, enjoyable form of entertainment.

Themes: AI, Digital ID, and Player Voice

Sessions throughout the day tackled urgent and emerging topics, including the role of artificial intelligence in lotteries, the integration of digital identification for youth protection, and the use of lived experience in developing effective responsible gambling strategies.

The event also included insight from across the broader Allwyn Group, whose operations span several European lottery markets, including Austria, the Czech Republic, and Greece.

Dr. Richard Wood, a behavioural scientist and gambling psychology expert, delivered a keynote on his Positive Play Scale, a research-based model designed to help lotteries measure and enhance responsible gambling behaviours among players.

Industry Regulators Add Weight

Andrew Rhodes, chief executive of the UK Gambling Commission, also spoke at the event, outlining the regulator’s expectations for lottery operators under the new licensing regime.

_{Andrew Rhodes of the Gambling Commission. (Image: Allwyn)}

Rhodes has previously emphasised the importance of a proactive approach to harm prevention in gambling, especially as digital offerings, eg, online casinos, expand.

For Allwyn, the conference was more than a discussion forum. Organisers said its outputs would inform future policy, technological development, and public education campaigns.

Looking Ahead

Allwyn described the event as the start of an ongoing process to keep player welfare at the core of lottery operations.

 “The outputs and insights we gained from the event will help shape our future plans,” the company said in a follow-up statement."

The event marks the first formal gathering focused exclusively on player protection in The National Lottery’s 30-year history, and reflects a broader trend toward ethical gambling standards in both national and international markets.