About National Lottery
The National Lottery is Britain's state-franchised lottery, operating since 1994 and now run by Allwyn Entertainment, raising billions of pounds for Good Causes across the United Kingdom. ## A British Institution Since 1994 The National Lottery was established under the government of John Major in 1993, with the first draw taking place on 19 November 1994 in a televised programme presented by Noel Edmonds. Originally operated by the Camelot Group—a consortium including ICL, Racal, Cadbury Schweppes, De La Rue, and GTECH—the lottery has become part of British life, with draws, scratchcards, and instant win games available at 44,000 retail points nationwide. ## The New Era: Allwyn Takes Over In February 2024, Allwyn Entertainment Ltd (owned by Czech billionaire Karel Komárek's KKCG group) took over all National Lottery operations, ending Camelot's 30-year run. The Gambling Commission awarded Allwyn a 10-year licence running until January 2034, bringing new investment and modernisation while maintaining the lottery's mission to support Good Causes. ## Scratchcards and Instant Wins National Lottery scratchcards were introduced in 1995 and remain hugely popular. Available in most newsagents and supermarkets, scratchcards come in various formats priced at £1, £2, £3, or £5 (£10 cards were discontinued in 2019). Under Allwyn's new approach, purchase limits were introduced in October 2024 to promote responsible play. ## National Lottery at UK Supermarkets Grocefully helps you find National Lottery products at UK supermarkets including Iceland. While lottery tickets require age verification and cannot be purchased online, our store locator helps you find where to buy scratchcards alongside your grocery shop.
