Allwyn follows Camelot UK takeover with major expansion of US presence

As it prepares to take on UK National Lottery management duties, Allwyn has agreed to acquire the Camelot Lottery Systems Group (Camelot LS) from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTTP).

The deal builds on Allwyn’s decision to outright buy Camelot UK, which has been the operator of the National Lottery since 1993 and was the firm’s main competition in the Fourth National Lottery Licence contest.

Although the  UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) awarded the next 10 year contract to Allwyn, Camelot mounted a legal challenge against the decision. This has now been dropped, and Allwyn’s buyout of its former rival solidifies the firm’s standing in the UK lottery sector.

Having secured a major boost to its European operations with the National Lottery licence and purchasing Camelot UK from the OTTP, Allwyn’s latest transaction will substantially expand its US presence.

Robert Chvátal, Allwyn CEO, said: “We have always viewed the US market as an important part of Allwyn’s future growth story, and the acquisition of Camelot LS Group is the right step. 

“Allwyn’s goal is building better lotteries, and helping them raise more for good causes, through innovation, technology, efficiency and safety in our quest for enhanced player engagement. 

“Both Allwyn and Camelot share a passion about the lottery business, delivering value to our customers, and growing lottery returns to communities.”

Camelot LS operates the Illinois Lottery under a private management agreement via its Camelot Illinois LLC trading company, and also maintains a partnership with the Arkansas Scholarship lottery.

The group also maintains Pan-American and transatlantic operations with a technology arm that provides products and services to lotteries and lottery players in Europe and North America. 

Post transaction, there will be ‘no changes’ to the firm’s leadership team, which it states will benefit from Allwyn’s decade-long ‘in-depth experience’ in the European lottery sector.

As it stands, Allwyn is set to commence management of the UK National Lottery in February 2024 whilst continuing to operate lotteries in Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus and Italy.

Camelot LS Group Chief Executive, Wayne Pickup, added: “We remain committed to serving our customers, engaging players and growing lottery revenue to benefit the communities they serve.

“As the private manager of the Illinois Lottery, we work closely with the Department of Lottery to drive responsible and sustainable growth to maximise revenue for the State of Illinois. Combining the resources, expertise, and talent of Allwyn and Camelot LS Group will only strengthen the results we help the State of Illinois and all our customers achieve.”