IGT has submitted a fresh legal claim against the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) over its decision to award the fourth National Lottery licence to Allwyn, according to The Times.
The national newspaper has reported that a new appeal was lodged ‘just before Christmas’, with IGT arguing that its rights under Article 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Human Rights Act had been breached.
IGT previously appealed against the Commission’s decision alongside its technology partner Camelot, which has operated the lottery since its inception in 1994.
But Camelot withdrew its legal appeal in September, paving the way for Allwyn to be officially awarded the fourth licence later that month.
The Czech-owned group subsequently acquired Camelot UK Lotteries Limited from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board for a reported fee of £100m, and this was expected to conclude any further disputes.
However, IGT has renewed its claim against the UKGC with a series of amendments made to its original challenge, arguing that the decision to hand the fourth lottery licence to Allwyn had cost the firm “marketable goodwill”.
The decision has been met with indignation from several MP’s, with fears that a win for the Italian-owned company could lead to a £600m damages award, payable from the National Lottery’s good causes fund.
Ben Bradley, Conservative member for Mansfield, has accused IGT of targeting the lottery good cause fund “supposed to help some of our most disadvantaged communities”.
Sally-Ann Hart, Tory MP for Hastings and Rye, added: “The fact that charity money raised by the British public for local causes and projects is at risk of being raided by a partner of Camelot using the ECHR is completely unacceptable.”
The Times further reported that IGT had been contacted for comment.