Odds improve but no National Lottery yet
by Mark
Oliphant
http://www.thisisguernsey.com
THE extension of the National Lottery to
Guernsey is still at least two years away, according to Culture
and Leisure.
 |
| The National Lottery
Bill, if passed in the UK, would pave the wave for
tickets to be sold locally but Culture and Leisure has
said that is still at least two years away. (0280574) |
Fresh gambling
legislation is going through Parliament which, if passed, would
include allowing the lottery to be run in the Channel Islands
and the Isle of Man.
The National Lottery Bill had its second reading in the House of
Lords on Monday evening and was passed unopposed.
But Culture and Leisure chief officer Dave Chilton said that any
introduction here would be at least two or two-and-a-half years
away. 'It is a good way off,' he said.
The sale of National Lottery tickets in the island is banned,
although it is well known that many people play via friends and
relatives in the UK despite the fact that none of the money can
go to good causes in the Bailiwick.
Mr Chilton said that when it became apparent in 2005 that the UK
was changing its gambling legislation, the Channel Islands
decided to make a joint approach to have clauses put in so that
if it was successful, the Bailiwicks, if they wished, could be
part of the National Lottery.
The bill has cleared the House of Commons and is now on its way
through the House of Lords, although it still requires further
hearings and royal approval before coming into force.
Mr Chilton said it would be extended here only if Guernsey
wanted it to be and would require the agreement of the States.
And as a joint initiative between the islands, it would need the
approval of both parliaments and changes to some pan-island
legislation.
He added that there was also the complication that lottery
operator Camelot's licence runs out on 31 January 2009 and
either will be renewed or someone new will come into the
equation.
Mr Chilton said it had already been agreed in principle that
money raised from ticket sales in the Channel Islands would come
back to good causes in the Bailiwicks.
It would not go into the UK Big Lottery Fund but a special CI
one. The UK would be happy with just the tax take.
It would have to be decided what percentage from sales would go
into the fund. In the UK, 28% of the takings currently goes to
good causes.
Mr Chilton said nothing had been signed and that everything was
still on the table.
So far, £17bn has been raised for good causes and 200,000 grants
given out across the UK.
The introduction of the National Lottery could well spell the
end of the CI Lottery, which has moved to scratch cards and a
bumper Christmas charity draw.
Mr Chilton said that it was buoyant, with good scratch card
sales and more than one million entries in the most recent
Christmas draw. |
