SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Italian lottery operator Sisal has secured a major endorsement in its bid to win the UK National Lottery’s operating contract, as BT becomes its strategic telecoms partner.
Maintaining the UK’s biggest customer base for home broadband and household telecom services, BT will serve as the ‘network partner’ of Sisal’s bid, working on ‘how to combine the best fixed and mobile networks in the UK with the latest tech to widen the appeal of the National Lottery’.
BT joins heritage children’s charity Barnardo’s in supporting Sisal’s bid to become the next steward of the National Lottery, replacing incumbent Camelot Group in 2023.
Sisal Group CEO, Francesco Durante, branded BT’s support as a major moment for the firm’s tender, which aims to revitalise all components of the National Lottery for a new generation of consumers and good-will duties.
“As the UK’s leading telecommunications and networks provider, BT has unparalleled understanding of the UK market and its transformative digital expertise, customer focused approach and commitment to innovation will ensure that our bid will deliver the best possible solution for the UK National Lottery.” – Durante remarked.
BT’s support for Sisal’s bid follows its the announcement of its rival Vodafone’s partnership with Allwyn – the UK enterprise of Czech gambling conglomerate SAZKA competing to win the UK government’s lucrative 10-year operating contract.
The competition – overseen by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and DCMS – has placed an emphasis on how key partnerships will re-engage the lottery to a mass-market consumer product raising vital funds for good causes.
“BT’s technology solutions can ensure that the National Lottery maximises the amount of money raised for good causes, while better protecting those players most at risk from gambling harms,” commented Dean Terry, MD, Corporate and Public Sector, for BT Enterprise.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with Sisal to support their bid with the aim of delivering a National Lottery which is fit for the future by putting technology innovation at its heart.”
Despite a delay in initiating the bidding contest, DCMS remains confident that it will announce a winner of its fourth National Lottery competition by the end of the year.
