U.K. Health Lottery owner Richard Desmond is campaigning to raise potential lottery jackpots to £1 million (US$1.4 million).
So-called society lotteries, which donate proceeds to good causes, can only offer jackpots up to £500,000. In a January letter, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked ministers to review the current limit. The Health Lottery has raised more than £118 million (US$164.7 million) for some 3,000 local health and inequality charities.
“We have previously discussed your position that society lotteries should be able to offer a prize of £1 million, irrespective of proceeds,” Johnson wrote to Desmond. “I understand your disappointment that the planned increase to the prize limit does not go as far as you would have wished.”
Johnson’s letter, obtained by the U.K. Times newspaper under the country’s Freedom of Information Act, made clear that the decision must be made by various stakeholders to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
Desmond said the prime minister previously pledged an increase to £1 million, but in letters from February, Johnson told the lottery boss he couldn’t commit to an immediate increase.
Desmond replied he was depressed and “at my wits’ end” because without the increase to £1 million, less prize money could go to charities backed by his lottery.
A spokesman for the Health Lottery said it looks forward to a further government review this August, and continues to hope for an increase.
