The UK Gambling Commission, which recently announced new gaming machines rules, has called for continued efforts to strengthen participant protection across the National Lottery, although the product remains one of the lowest-risk forms of gambling.
UKGC Acting Chief Executive Sarah Gardner spoke at the Allwyn Participant Protection Conference on October 1, 2026, and said protecting consumers must remain a key objective for the National Lottery's future. She also underlined progress made by the operator Allwyn over the past year, while stressing that further work is still required.
According to Gardner, the National Lottery remained a national institution, and she argued that its position brought both significant value and greater responsibility.
“The National Lottery is a national institution, and so it is on all of us to make sure it stays that way,” Gardner noted in her speech.
Allwyn Expands Player Protection Standards
Additionally, Gardner gave Allwyn as an example. The company made a major technology upgrade earlier this year, which, in Gardner’s words, was an important milestone under the Fourth Licence.
The private gambling operator described the digital transformation as the “Digital Cutover”, which was designed not only to upgrade the technology supporting the National Lottery but also to provide a foundation for new products and innovations.
As a result of the overhaul, the Gambling Commission passed several new games and game changes, including Powerball. Gardner explained that the introduction of the product demonstrated Allwyn’s ambition to innovate the National Lottery while increasing returns to good causes.
At the same time, the technology upgrade allowed Allwyn to implement fresh player protection tools for customers that rely on its online services.
Gardner further added that Allwyn has successfully integrated new protections for every National Lottery player using its website or app. The operator has also committed to working with retailers across the UK to strengthen support for players who may be at risk of gambling harm in retail environments.
However, she also noted that the introduction was not completely seamless, as there were reports of some technical issues. Still, she said the Commission supports the operator’s commitment and the progress made so far.
National Lottery Raises £1.7 Billion for Good Causes
In her speech, Gardner also highlighted the wider social importance of the National Lottery.
Over the latest 12-month period for which data has been published, the National Lottery generated approximately £1.7 billion for charitable causes across the UK. Gardner stressed that the importance of this fundraising could not be overstated, and pointed to its contribution to sports clubs, museums, historic sites and other community projects.
She argued that the scale of the National Lottery’s reach also makes the way it operates and is perceived particularly important.
The UK Gambling Commission’s Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) further demonstrates the lottery’s widespread participation. According to the 2025 annual report, roughly 31% of gambling participants said they had played the National Lottery during the previous four weeks.
Numbers show that National Lottery scratchcards were played by 11% of participants, while 6% reported playing National Lottery online instant-win games.
Low Risk Does Not Eliminate Risk
Despite its widespread participation, Gardner stressed that the National Lottery continues to be classified among the lowest-risk gambling products. However, she noted that this does not mean that it cannot lead to gambling risks.
In her words, risks can occur and that protections are needed, further emphasising the importance of maintaining and strengthening safeguards.
She also emphasised that gambling harm cannot be completely eliminated and that regulators and UK licensed operators should continue to come up with measures that could further reduce risks.
For Gardner, the National Lottery’s status as a trusted national institution makes participant protection particularly important. Millions of people play the lottery, and therefore, any loss of public trust could have significant consequences.
“The strength of The National Lottery, that it is played and trusted by millions of people across the country, can quickly turn if things go wrong,” she explained.
Commission Expects Best Practices
In addition, Gardner said the National Lottery should remain a key figure when it comes to player protection while also demonstrating best practice across the sector.
She noted that the Fourth Licence regulatory framework places particular importance on participant protection, which means that Allwyn will be expected to maintain its focus on keeping players safe.
The Commission executive also welcomed the purpose of the Participant Protection Conference, which brought together industry representatives who were able to discuss topics such as neurodiversity, product design, player understanding and ways to mitigate gambling risks.
Gardner concluded that participant protection must remain at the core of the National Lottery’s continued success and its contribution to communities across the UK.
“With the support of everyone here today, I am sure that will continue to be the case,” she concluded.
