The Health Lottery and People’s Postcode Lottery have expressed concerns about a possible conflict of interest within the chief gambling regulator, should a proposed merger of the Gambling Commission and National Lottery Commission go ahead.

In separate written evidence statements made to Parliament yesterday, the two external lottery managers both expressed overall support for the concept of merging the two regulators, but said safeguards would need to be put in place.

The lotteries are concerned that the priority of the National Lottery Commission as it stands, to protect the National Lottery, could mean that a merged regulator may be hostile to society lotteries and to the relaxation of rules around society lotteries.

The People’s Postcode Lottery went further, arguing that while the merger “makes sense”, it similarly makes sense that charity lotteries be subject to the same laws and regulations as the National Lottery, thereby lifting all limits on the size of charity lotteries.

The organisation said, however, that before any merger goes ahead the Gambling Commission should conduct a review into the possible impact of changing the monetary limits on charity lotteries, as was mooted by the Labour government.

Camelot submission

Camelot, meanwhile, in its submission, expressed its hope that should the merger go ahead, the new body will protect the role and position of the National Lottery.

Camelot too highlighted possible conflicts of interest, noting that the Gambling Commission at present has no obligation to either protect the national game nor to “maximise returns to good causes”.

The proposal to merge the National Lottery Commission, which exclusively regulates the National Lottery, and the Gambling Commission, which regulates all other gambling, was first put forward in last year. The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee then put out a call for written evidence.

Oral evidence will be heard next week.