Camelot under fire over drop in money raised for charities

NATIONAL Lottery operator Camelot has been heavily criticised as a report out today reveals the money it produces for good causes has fallen by 15 per cent.

The National Audit Office inquiry shows its income dropped to £1.63billion, leaving the six organisations which distribute money raised, including UK Sport, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund, short of the amount needed to meet commitments by £88million. The revelation comes a day after MPs called on the Government to let the Health Lottery and other lotteries give prizes of up to £1million per draw, irrespective of ticket sales.

During the debate in London’s Westminster Hall, MPs said there was no conflict between the National Lottery and society lotteries and criticised Camelot for its attempt to stop the Health Lottery in the courts before it was launched in 2011. Tory MP Sir Henry Bellingham said the Health Lottery and others had been a huge success in raising money for good causes.

He praised the Health Lottery, run by Daily Express owner Richard Desmond, saying: “I would like to pay special tribute to the founders of the Health Lottery and particularly to Richard Desmond who is one of our most highly regarded and respected philanthropists. They can be very proud about what they have done.”

He suggested that the fall in income for the National Lottery was not linked to competition from society lotteries but came about because Camelot had increased the cost of a ticket to £2 and added 10 numbers, making it harder for people to win.

His call for changes including allowing society lotteries to raise top prizes to £1 million was backed by MPs from all parties.