Interesting Contenders For Brit Lotto

Published: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 Online-Casinos.com

INTERESTING CONTENDERS FOR BRIT LOTTO

Plenty of competition in 2009


England's National Lottery Commission has published responses from companies interested in taking over the UK National Lottery license when it comes for renewal in 2009. The license is valid for 7 years and is currently held by Camelot.

The UK business press reports that with the advent of England's new liberated gambling laws, the growth potential through interactive channels and the commission's expressed desire to level the playing field for prospective bidders, the field of candidates is expected to be larger when the lottery license is again available.

The press has published the list of responding companies, and it makes for interesting reading:

Here's a brief overview of prospective bidders:

Camelot which has run the lottery for 11 years

Sir Richard Branson. A spokesman for Branson said that the tycoon is considering "a number of ideas" and that, like the People's Lottery group that bid in 2000, any Branson-backed lottery would donate all profits to charity.

Lehman Brothers - Financial Times reports that Lehman Broths is considering creating a bid consortium.

Gala - England's largest bingo operated has reportedly contacted the commission with an interest in entering the bidding process.

Goldman Sachs/GTECH - Goldman Sachs is said to be organizing a bid through a partnership with GTECH as the technology provider.

Hilton Group/Intralot - Financial Times reported this week that the two companies are considering a bidding partnership.

William Hill - The leading British bookmaker is also considered a candidate to bid for the license.

Tattersalls - Australia-based Tattersalls could be a bidder. The group made a bid for the first U.K. lottery license.

Sportech - Sportech recently told the Daily Post that it, too, will be "considering its options."

Formal bids are expected to start around October next year.