National Lottery must lead on player protection, says Sarah Gardner

The National Lottery must remain at the forefront of player protection despite being one of the lowest-risk gambling products, Gambling Commission acting chief executive Sarah Gardner has said.

Speaking at Allwyn’s Participant Protection Conference on 1 October, Gardner warned that the Lottery’s status as a trusted national institution brings higher expectations and greater scrutiny.

Her speech, published on 2 October, welcomed Allwyn’s progress in strengthening safeguards but stressed that protecting participants must remain central to its operations.

Low risk still requires safeguards

Gardner said the Commission’s Gambling Survey for Great Britain consistently identifies the National Lottery as one of the lowest-risk gambling products.

However, she cautioned against treating that position as a reason to reduce attention to potential harm.

“The public don’t want the things they trust and support in society to be causing harms. And trust forfeited is never easy to win back." - Sarah Gardner

Gardner argued that the Lottery’s widespread popularity makes maintaining confidence particularly important. Millions of people participate, while communities across the country benefit from the money it generates.

She said the Commission expects Allwyn to determine and demonstrate best practice in protecting players, describing this as a key principle of the Fourth National Lottery Licence framework.

Digital upgrade brings new protections

Gardner highlighted Allwyn’s technology transformation earlier this year, describing it as the largest upgrade in the National Lottery’s history.

Alongside enabling new products and changes to existing games, the programme introduced new protections for everyone playing online or through the app.

Allwyn is also working with retailers to strengthen support for participants who may be at risk of harm.

Gardner acknowledged that implementation had involved teething problems, while maintaining that the operator’s commitment and progress were clear.

The upgrade also created opportunities for product innovation. She pointed to the introduction of Powerball as an example of Allwyn’s ambition to increase returns to good causes, following regulatory approval of new games and game changes.

Protecting a national institution

Over the latest 12-month period covered by published figures, the National Lottery raised £1.7 billion for good causes across the UK, Gardner said.

She highlighted the contribution that funding makes to sports clubs, museums, historic sites and other community projects.

However, her message was that the Lottery’s fundraising role and participant protection are closely connected: maintaining public confidence helps safeguard its wider contribution.

The conference agenda included discussions about neurodiversity, player understanding and how product design can influence risk.

Gardner encouraged attendees to use those insights to improve safeguards, arguing that continued success depends on keeping participant protection at the core of the National Lottery’s work.

Low risk still requires safeguards

Gardner said the Commission’s Gambling Survey for Great Britain consistently identifies the National Lottery as one of the lowest-risk gambling products.

However, she cautioned against treating that position as a reason to reduce attention to potential harm.

“The public don’t want the things they trust and support in society to be causing harms. And trust forfeited is never easy to win back,” she said.

Gardner argued that the Lottery’s widespread popularity makes maintaining confidence particularly important. Millions of people participate, while communities across the country benefit from the money it generates.

She said the Commission expects Allwyn to determine and demonstrate best practice in protecting players, describing this as a key principle of the Fourth National Lottery Licence framework.

Digital upgrade brings new protections

Gardner highlighted Allwyn’s technology transformation earlier this year, describing it as the largest upgrade in the National Lottery’s history.

Alongside enabling new products and changes to existing games, the programme introduced new protections for everyone playing online or through the app.

Allwyn is also working with retailers to strengthen support for participants who may be at risk of harm.

Gardner acknowledged that implementation had involved teething problems, while maintaining that the operator’s commitment and progress were clear.

The upgrade also created opportunities for product innovation. She pointed to the introduction of Powerball as an example of Allwyn’s ambition to increase returns to good causes, following regulatory approval of new games and game changes.

Protecting a national institution

Over the latest 12-month period covered by published figures, the National Lottery raised £1.7 billion for good causes across the UK, Gardner said.

She highlighted the contribution that funding makes to sports clubs, museums, historic sites and other community projects.

However, her message was that the Lottery’s fundraising role and participant protection are closely connected: maintaining public confidence helps safeguard its wider contribution.

The conference agenda included discussions about neurodiversity, player understanding and how product design can influence risk.

Gardner encouraged attendees to use those insights to improve safeguards, arguing that continued success depends on keeping participant protection at the core of the National Lottery’s work.