The U.K. Gambling Commission has approved Allwyn Entertainment’s takeover of Camelot UK, the company Allwyn will succeed next year as operator of Britain’s National Lottery. Allwyn acquired the company’s U.K. operations from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board.
Allwyn executives say the transaction will help facilitate a smooth transition as it prepares to take over lottery operations in February 2024. It is the fourth license issued for the lottery, which had been operated by Camelot since its inception in 1994.
“Allwyn’s ownership of Camelot will also produce greater clarity and certainty for the future of the National Lottery, for the good causes that it funds and for the employees of both Camelot and Allwyn,” the company said in a press release.
“Today marks an important milestone in our journey to become the operator of the National Lottery,” said Robert Chvátal, CEO of Allwyn Group and interim CEO of Allwyn UK. “Acquiring Camelot will help ensure a smooth transition from the third to the fourth license, while bringing together the collective expertise and technical know-how of two highly experienced lottery operators.
“We are thrilled to welcome Camelot into the Allwyn family. We are united by our common passion: to protect and improve the National Lottery, and the good causes it supports.”
Meanwhile, the company announced changes to Camelot’s board and management team, which will take effect on completion of the deal. Clare Swindell and Neil Brocklehurst, currently Camelot’s chief financial officer and commercial director, respectively, will become co-chief executives and will lead Camelot through to the end of the third license in January 2024. Camelot’s current Chairman Sir Hugh Robertson and CEO Nigel Railton will step down from the board, among others. Sir Keith Mills is expected to be appointed as the new chairman at closing of the transaction, subject to regulatory approvals.
Swindell joined Camelot in 2017 as CFO and was appointed to the board in September 2019. Before joining Camelot, Clare was Group CFO at data science company Dunnhumby and held a number of senior finance roles at Tesco, including as CFO for Tesco.com.
Brocklehurst has worked for Camelot in a variety of senior roles for 15 years, and has been commercial director since 2018. His lottery experience includes working in the U.K., Ireland and North America within Camelot Global, including as interim managing director.
“I would like to thank Sir Hugh and Nigel for their contribution to the success of the National Lottery,” said Chvátal. “I am delighted to appoint Clare and Neil as co-chief executives, both of whom have enormous experience in the operation of Camelot and the National Lottery.”
