Camelot UK Lotteries revealed that in Great Britain, a record-breaking number of retailers asked for identification when customers purchased National Lottery Products in 2022-2023.
As part of the “Operation 18”, a mystery shopping programme for 2022-2023, operators visited retailers more than 11600 times. In this program, people over 18 but who appear younger try to purchase products like lottery tickets or scratchcards.
In all cases, retailers requested ID proof on the first visit. This is the highest percentage since Camelot started the campaign. Camelot stated that the results were particularly impressive, given that the National Lottery’s age limit only increased from 16 to 18.
The “Healthy Play”, a mystery-shopping initiative that involved over 4,000 extra store visits to educate retailers about the potential signs of unhealthy behavior among their clients, ran alongside the program.
Camelot ran several “Responsible Retailing Training Initiatives”, including its team contacting over 160.000 National Lottery Retailers to give advice about preventing the underage playing of games and encouraging healthy play.
Camelot reported that 94% of the retailers it visited were able to pass a knowledge test on healthy play, and 88% said they had been satisfied with their service via Camelot’s retailer-only hotline during Q4.
Alex Green, Camelot’s retail director said: “Since the change in age of play from 16 to 18 years old only a year ago, retailers have had their highest-ever success rate with our mystery shopper program ‘Operation 18.'” This incredible result is a testament to all the hard work both the retailers and Camelot’s team have done over the past two years.
Age checks are an important part of the overall strategy we have in place to protect players, but they’re only one aspect. Our Responsible Retailing Contact Programme also provided retailers with a refresher on the subject of underage and healthy playing, and we delivered thousands of ‘Healthy Play’ mystery shoppers visits. All of this was then tested by our special knowledge check.
We couldn’t have been happier with our outstanding results.
Allwyn will take over the National Lottery in February 2024, after Camelot secured the fourth National Lottery license last year.
Allwyn has agreed to purchase Camelot UK by November 2022. It also purchased the US-facing Camelot Lottery Solutions’ units of businesses from Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board.
