Latest news with #TheNationalLottery
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
National Lottery players can't claim prizes this weekend as website goes offline
The National Lottery's operator, Allwyn, has announced a temporary pause will take place this weekend. Fans of the National Lottery won't be able to claim any prizes or buy tickets for restricted time this weekend as the gambling service is set to be put on pause from Saturday evening. This is due to a major system upgrade needing to be performed. The National Lottery's operator, Allwyn, has confirmed that following the Lotto and Thunderball draws on August 2, a temporary pause will be put in place. This means that no prizes can be claimed from 11pm on Saturday night until late on the following Monday morning. As well as the website and app going down, retail points in local shops and supermarkets will also be shut down during this period, which means avid players will be unable to claim or purchase a new ticket throughout Sunday, reports the Mirror. However, scratchcards will still be able to be purchased in stores. Additionally, while the National Lottery undergoes the biggest systems update since 1994, according to Allwyn, hopeful winners will still be able to check the results of the National Lottery games that take place on Saturday evening. This system update seems to be a vital change as Allwyn has said that the in-store terminals and systems currently powering the lottery games have been in place since 2009, which to put into context, is before iPads and Instagram. For those worried about buying their next Set For Life ticket for the Monday draw, the systems should be back up and running to buy some last minute tickets by late Monday morning. There are also a few other changes surrounding the National Lottery for avid players to look out for. One of which is that the National Lottery will be getting a 'fresh new look' in 43,500 shops across the UK. Another change is that for the first time players will receive payment from retail prizes directly into their bank accounts. This is a big shift away from previously getting prizes paid through cheque. To do so, winners need to fill in a claim form online and upload a picture of their winning ticket. Once this is confirmed, you should receive an email with a link to submit your bank details. Fans should also be excited as there are new ways to play the lottery, including at Aldi self-checkouts and via home delivery. On top of this, over 2000 new instant games have been created. Andria Vidler, CEO of Allwyn, said: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver The National Lottery that the UK deserves. "We're making unprecedented and much-needed changes, which will move us closer to achieving our vision for The National Lottery, restoring its magic and significantly increasing its positive impact on lives across the UK. "These major upgrades will mean short-term disruption for players and our retail partners but they will allow us to deliver on our promise to bring new, exciting games; a better player experience; and our commitment to double returns to Good Causes from £30m to £60m every week by the end of the 10-year licence." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Fans of the National Lottery who want to claim, check or buy a new ticket are being advised to do so before 11pm on Saturday to avoid disappointment. Since the nation's favourite form of gambling began in 1994, the National Lottery has been run by Camelot. However, in 2024, Allwyn took over as operator. Allwyn Entertainment is a gambling group that currently operates across Europe, including the Czech Republic, Italy, Cyprus, Greece and Austria, and is currently owned by energy billionaire Karel Komarek.
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
National Lottery 36-hour pause will allow ‘biggest tech upgrade' since launch
All draw game sales and prize claims will be paused in shops across the UK from 11pm on Saturday night following the Lotto and Thunderball draws until 'late Monday morning', operator Allwyn said. The National Lottery website and app will also be down over the same period. New National Lottery 'playstations' will be set up (Allwyn/PA) Allwyn advised players to buy draw tickets, check results and claim prizes before 11pm on Saturday and warned that they would not be able to log into their online accounts, buy draw tickets or claim prizes – in-store or online – until Monday. Players will be able to check results until systems go offline and will still be able to buy Scratchcards. They will also be able to see the latest draws and view the full results for the Saturday draws on the National Lottery's YouTube channel. During the pause, Allwyn will transfer and upgrade the National Lottery's gaming and retail systems to new platforms. However, it warned that a 'small proportion' of in-store terminals could experience delays coming back up if certain upgrade processes are interrupted for various reasons. The Czech-based Allwyn group – which took over the 10-year licence to run the lottery from Camelot in February last year – said the systems and in-store terminals powering The National Lottery dated back to 2009, 'before iPads, Uber and Instagram', which now needed to be modernised to deliver on 'ambitious' plans for a National Lottery 'fit for the future'. Allwyn chief executive Andria Vidler said: 'This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver The National Lottery that the UK deserves. 'We're making unprecedented and much-needed changes, which will move us closer to achieving our vision for The National Lottery, restoring its magic and significantly increasing its positive impact on lives across the UK. Allwyn UK chief executive Andria Vidler hailed a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity' to deliver an upgrade (Allwyn/PA) 'These major upgrades will mean short-term disruption for players and our retail partners but they will allow us to deliver on our promise to bring new, exciting games, a better player experience and our commitment to double returns to Good Causes from £30 million to £60 million every week by the end of the 10-year licence.' The switchover has been beset by delays after Allwyn took over the licence, which has held back the launch of new draw-based games. It was unable to switch to a new technology provider after agreeing to extend the contract for the existing supplier, International Games Technology (IGT). IGT had challenged the Gambling Commission's decision to award Allwyn the 10-year licence in court, but later dropped the legal action. Allwyn has previously admitted that delays to the new games it had hoped to introduce in 2024 will hold back the amount of money it can give to good causes in the early part of its 10-year licence. But the group remained committed to its long-term goal to double money for good causes, despite falling short of early targets.
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Yankey issues Lionesses World Cup prediction after Euros triumph
The Lionesses retained their European crown by edging past Spain on penalties to avenge their defeat in the 2023 World Cup final. Chloe Kelly, who scored the winning goal in the Euros showpiece three years ago at Wembley, fired home the decisive spot-kick after the two sides finished level at 1-1 after extra-time in Basel. Sarina Wiegman's side became the first England side – men or women – to have both won a major tournament on foreign soil and to have retained a major title. (Image: The National Lottery) Once the celebrations have finished following their Swiss triumph, England's attention will turn to the World Cup in Brazil in two years' time. And Yankey, who amassed a then-record 129 caps for her country between 1997 to 2013, thinks every team will be trying to get one over on the double European champions. She said: 'They've definitely got a target on their back. 'Everybody wants to beat England and I think that has always been the way. It was a massive accomplishment to play against and beat England, so obviously they'll be a target on their backs. 'But this team have shown now they can handle the pressure. There was pressure going into this tournament. After 2022, after winning a home Euros, there was a big question mark, could they do it again? Was it a fluke? Was it because it was a home Euros? And they've answered that.' Yankey was speaking from an event at Bearsted FC the morning after England's triumph, where The National Lottery honoured England hero Alessia Russo by unveiling a mural at the grassroots club she played for. Bearsted FC, in Maidstone, which received £10,000 of funding from The National Lottery during Covid, saw the new mural unveiled, recognising Russo and the Lionesses' unprecedented achievement of winning back-to-back Euros titles and reaching the last three major international finals. In reaching the final in Australia two years ago, the Lionesses recorded their best-ever finish at a World Cup but will no doubt be gunning to go one better in South America. And although there will be pressure on England when they take their place on the world's biggest footballing stage in Brazil, Yankey, who was part of England's squads at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, is confident the current crop of players can block out the noise and thrive once again. She continued: 'I wouldn't say they are the favourites, I still think other countries would label Spain or America as favourites, but for England and the players, it just seems they have an inner belief. 'And if they can nurture that and get that flowing through the team, then when they're together and when they're in camp, I don't think there's pressure on them. The pressure will come from us on the outside of the team. The team will know where they are at and what their aims are. In a way, they'll be in a really good place.' England's win also marked Wiegman's third-consecutive European success, after winning the 2017 tournament with her native Netherlands, before taking the Leeuwinnen to the World Cup Final in 2019 prior to joining England in 2021. The 55-year-old's stock is at an all-time high and Yankey added it would be difficult to pick out a better coach in the women's game right now and said it would have been 'fantastic' to have played under her. 'It would be hard to question against it, wouldn't it?' she added when asked about Wiegman's status as the best female manager in the world. 'It's a fantastic achievement what she's created for the England team. She was brought in for a purpose. There was massive pressure on her being head-hunted to come and do a job and she's definitely gone and done that. 'I've spoken to a couple of players, heard them in interviews and for how they speak about [playing for Wiegman], it's so positive. So yes, I do think that it would have been fantastic to have played for a manager like that. She treats every one of them not just as footballers, but as people. 'That's how coaching has evolved. So, playing for a coach like that should only bring out the best in you. I think it would have been incredible to know how much that coach could have brought out of you as a player.'
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Business
- Leader Live
National Lottery 36-hour pause will allow ‘biggest tech upgrade' since launch
All draw game sales and prize claims will be paused in shops across the UK from 11pm on Saturday night following the Lotto and Thunderball draws until 'late Monday morning', operator Allwyn said. The National Lottery website and app will also be down over the same period. Allwyn advised players to buy draw tickets, check results and claim prizes before 11pm on Saturday and warned that they would not be able to log into their online accounts, buy draw tickets or claim prizes – in-store or online – until Monday. Players will be able to check results until systems go offline and will still be able to buy Scratchcards. They will also be able to see the latest draws and view the full results for the Saturday draws on the National Lottery's YouTube channel. During the pause, Allwyn will transfer and upgrade the National Lottery's gaming and retail systems to new platforms. However, it warned that a 'small proportion' of in-store terminals could experience delays coming back up if certain upgrade processes are interrupted for various reasons. The Czech-based Allwyn group – which took over the 10-year licence to run the lottery from Camelot in February last year – said the systems and in-store terminals powering The National Lottery dated back to 2009, 'before iPads, Uber and Instagram', which now needed to be modernised to deliver on 'ambitious' plans for a National Lottery 'fit for the future'. Allwyn chief executive Andria Vidler said: 'This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver The National Lottery that the UK deserves. 'We're making unprecedented and much-needed changes, which will move us closer to achieving our vision for The National Lottery, restoring its magic and significantly increasing its positive impact on lives across the UK. 'These major upgrades will mean short-term disruption for players and our retail partners but they will allow us to deliver on our promise to bring new, exciting games, a better player experience and our commitment to double returns to Good Causes from £30 million to £60 million every week by the end of the 10-year licence.' The switchover has been beset by delays after Allwyn took over the licence, which has held back the launch of new draw-based games. It was unable to switch to a new technology provider after agreeing to extend the contract for the existing supplier, International Games Technology (IGT). IGT had challenged the Gambling Commission's decision to award Allwyn the 10-year licence in court, but later dropped the legal action. Allwyn has previously admitted that delays to the new games it had hoped to introduce in 2024 will hold back the amount of money it can give to good causes in the early part of its 10-year licence. But the group remained committed to its long-term goal to double money for good causes, despite falling short of early targets.
North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
National Lottery 36-hour pause will allow ‘biggest tech upgrade' since launch
All draw game sales and prize claims will be paused in shops across the UK from 11pm on Saturday night following the Lotto and Thunderball draws until 'late Monday morning', operator Allwyn said. The National Lottery website and app will also be down over the same period. Allwyn advised players to buy draw tickets, check results and claim prizes before 11pm on Saturday and warned that they would not be able to log into their online accounts, buy draw tickets or claim prizes – in-store or online – until Monday. Players will be able to check results until systems go offline and will still be able to buy Scratchcards. They will also be able to see the latest draws and view the full results for the Saturday draws on the National Lottery's YouTube channel. During the pause, Allwyn will transfer and upgrade the National Lottery's gaming and retail systems to new platforms. However, it warned that a 'small proportion' of in-store terminals could experience delays coming back up if certain upgrade processes are interrupted for various reasons. The Czech-based Allwyn group – which took over the 10-year licence to run the lottery from Camelot in February last year – said the systems and in-store terminals powering The National Lottery dated back to 2009, 'before iPads, Uber and Instagram', which now needed to be modernised to deliver on 'ambitious' plans for a National Lottery 'fit for the future'. Allwyn chief executive Andria Vidler said: 'This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver The National Lottery that the UK deserves. 'We're making unprecedented and much-needed changes, which will move us closer to achieving our vision for The National Lottery, restoring its magic and significantly increasing its positive impact on lives across the UK. 'These major upgrades will mean short-term disruption for players and our retail partners but they will allow us to deliver on our promise to bring new, exciting games, a better player experience and our commitment to double returns to Good Causes from £30 million to £60 million every week by the end of the 10-year licence.' The switchover has been beset by delays after Allwyn took over the licence, which has held back the launch of new draw-based games. It was unable to switch to a new technology provider after agreeing to extend the contract for the existing supplier, International Games Technology (IGT). IGT had challenged the Gambling Commission's decision to award Allwyn the 10-year licence in court, but later dropped the legal action. Allwyn has previously admitted that delays to the new games it had hoped to introduce in 2024 will hold back the amount of money it can give to good causes in the early part of its 10-year licence. But the group remained committed to its long-term goal to double money for good causes, despite falling short of early targets.
