Gambling-Lottery Commission merger set for hearing next week
Culture, Media and Sport select committee to hear contributions from executives from both commissions
The proposed merger between the UK Gambling Commission and National Lottery Commission is set to face further scrutiny at a select committee hearing next week.
The Culture, Media and Sport committee will take statements from both commissions at Tuesday morning’s hearing, with Gambling Commission CEO Jenny Williams and Lottery Commission chief executive Mark Harris among those set to contribute.
Also present will be legal and compliance representatives from UK National Lottery operator Camelot, which earlier this month announced record online sales and pledged to “lead the field” for online lottery innovation.
Next week’s hearing follows calls for increased scrutiny into the merger on the grounds that the responsibilities of the two commissions are “incompatible” and suggestions that the proposed merger could bring about a conflict of interest. The committee raised such issues in a report published last month, following the conclusion of an initial public consultation into the merger last October.
The UK Gambling Act is yet to receive a date for a second reading, having been introduced in Parliament earlier this month.