SUBMISSION 2
Memorandum submitted by Intelligent Gaming
Solutions
I am writing to offer myself as a witness for
your forthcoming inquiry into the Government Report "A
safe bet for success—modernising Britain's gambling laws".
I would welcome the opportunity to give oral evidence at this
inquiry, particularly in relation to society lotteries and the
National Lottery, in an effort to give an insight into the lotteries
sector from a non-UK perspective.
I represent Intelligent Gaming Solutions (IGS),
a company that specialises in providing interactive television
lottery programmes for not-for-profit organisations in Sweden
and elsewhere. These organisations, (predominantly charities),
primarily raise money through the sale of lottery tickets, which
are their main source of sustainable revenue.
IGS is very interested in working with UK charities
to launch a similar venture in the UK, enabling them to develop
their own source of sustainable revenue. Perhaps I should clarify
at this point that what we offer is a very different concept to
that of the National Lottery.
Our experience in Sweden and abroad demonstrates
that our activities have not impinged upon those of the incumbent
national lottery, but have in fact had the opposite effect: increasing
the turnover of the main national lottery. We offer a family oriented
game show where prizes are smaller and more numerous than those
of a typical national lottery. However, we do offer life-changing
prizes, which are won a limited number of times during the year.
Given the current restrictions on prize money
and turnover for society lotteries, we are unable to introduce
a similar concept in the UK. I understand the Government's intention
is purely to double these limits as there is a real concern over
the potential effects on the National Lottery. It is also my understanding
that these effects are something the inquiry intends to look at
in more detail. Given my experience in this sector in Sweden,
I would willingly provide the Select Committee with what I trust
would prove a valuable insight, particularly on the potential
effects of introducing positive competition into the lottery market,
and, in particular, on raising the 'cap' on society lotteries.
I would be further interested in providing evidence
which suggests that a society lottery of this kind has been good
for the National Lottery and the Swedish economy, and that there
is every likelihood that it would have the same effect in the
UK.
I am attaching a briefing note on the work that
we do in Sweden [not printed], including data showing the
Swedish national lottery's performance since IGS began operating
there. You will note that last year it posted record sales as
a result of the introduction of healthy competition.
Please do not hesitate to contact me for further
details should you so require. Finally, I very much look forward
to having the opportunity of presenting my information to you.
18 April 2002
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