The CEO of Allwyn, Robert Chvátal, has announced that the new technology for powering The National Lottery is slated for deployment in 2025. This follows reports suggesting that the pan-European company has encountered challenges in implementing these technological advancements.
Allwyn officially assumed control of the UK National Lottery in February 2024, having secured the fourth licence from the Gambling Commission back in 2022. However, the company has experienced a number of complications in the months following their takeover from the previous licence holder, Camelot.
Allwyn’s Chief Financial Officer, Kenneth Morton, indicated in December 2023 that there would likely be negative effects on the operator’s financial margins in the short term within the UK market. This projection has been mirrored in Allwyn’s recent financial disclosures. In the most recent Q3 earnings report, the UK’s adjusted EBITDA plummeted to €7 million, marking an 84% decrease compared to the corresponding period in 2023. The company attributed this sharp decline in EBITDA to a new incentive and profitability structure introduced with the commencement of the new licence.
According to a report by *The Telegraph* at the start of October, obstacles faced by the operator since February have been outlined, noting complications arising from the transition of their supplier partnership from IGT to Scientific Games.
The agreement with Scientific Games entails the implementation of a new digital platform, the overhauling of systems for 40,000 retail terminals, and the establishment of a 92,000 square foot scratchcard facility in Warrington. An unnamed technology expert quoted in *The Telegraph* likened the transition to “placing a Microsoft system on top of an Apple computer.” These technology integration issues have reportedly led to delays for customers receiving their winnings.
Despite the backlog of delays, Chvátal confidently conveyed on a recent analyst call that the transition will be completed and is expected to be transformative for The National Lottery, which marked its 30th anniversary not long ago. The CEO reaffirmed Allwyn’s commitment to rolling out the new technology at the earliest opportunity.
Chvátal stated: “Executing the switch was an extensive undertaking, yet uneventful. More importantly, the transition to a completely new technology stack is still on track for next year.” He emphasized that this move is meant to serve the best interests of The National Lottery and the philanthropic causes it supports.
“We are determined to operationalize this new technology swiftly. It’s in our favor. The tech switchover is just a facet of our broader strategy to revamp The National Lottery over the duration of the licence,” he mentioned. “I remain optimistic in the long term. Upon completion, this will represent one of the most significant transitions in lottery industry history. The advent of a new digital platform will enhance the user experience for UK consumers, ideally making the UK National Lottery more engaging and interactive,” he concluded.
The article on the technological shift at the UK National Lottery was initially published on [EGR Intel](https://www.egr.global/intel/news/allwyn-ceo-insists-uk-national-lottery-tech-switchover-will-take-place-in-2025/).