National Lottery players will experience a temporary suspension in ticket purchases and prize claims starting from Saturday night until Monday morning due to a significant system upgrade. Allwyn, the operator of the National Lottery, has confirmed that the pause will commence at 11 pm on Saturday after the Lotto and Thunderball draws and will extend until late Monday morning.
During this period, the National Lottery website, app, and retail outlets will be affected, preventing individuals from buying National Lottery tickets at local shops. However, scratchcards will still be available for purchase. National Lottery results can still be checked before the system goes offline. Allwyn stated that this system upgrade will be the most extensive since its inception in 1994.
As part of the changes, The National Lottery will have a “fresh new look” in 43,500 shops across the UK, and retail prizes will now be directly deposited into players’ bank accounts instead of being issued by check. Winners will be required to submit their claim form online and upload an image of their winning ticket, followed by providing their bank account details through an email link.
Additionally, new playing methods will be introduced, including home delivery and utilization at Aldi self-checkouts. Moreover, there will be over 200 new instant games available. Andria Vidler, CEO of Allwyn, emphasized that these upgrades will lead to short-term disruptions but will ultimately enhance the player experience and increase returns to Good Causes.
Allwyn took over the National Lottery operation from Camelot in 2024, with Camelot having managed the National Lottery since its inception in the UK in 1994. Allwyn Entertainment, owned by Czech energy billionaire Karel Komarek, operates across various European countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy.
