Allwyn UK and the Gambling Commission are evaluating whether the GamStop self-exclusion scheme should be expanded to cover more National Lottery products.
The duo both issued separate statements this week and the senior coroner for Luton and Betfordshire sent a prevention of future deaths report to the Gambling Commission concerning a man named Steve Goff, who had taken his own life.
In her report, Senior Coroner Emma Whitting recommended that National Lottery draw games be included under the GamStop self-exclusion scheme. As it stands, National Lottery instant win games are included in the scheme, and customers can self-exclude via the National Lottery app, but instant win games are not covered by GamStop.
Whiting made the recommendation due to Goff – who was a father-of-two, had been battling gambling addiction for some time and had attempted to take his own life twice previously – using his last few pounds to play a National Lottery draw game shortly before his death.
The report, cited by the Times, also revealed that Goff had gambled with both licensed and unlicensed operators during his decades-long struggle with problem gambling.
Following the report, Allwyn UK issued the following statement to SBC Media:
“Our thoughts are with Mr Goff’s family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.
“We are working closely with the Gambling Commission as it considers any regulatory changes needed to the scope of GamStop, which it currently applies to National Lottery online instant win games only.”
As mentioned above, instant win games are included under GamsSop. The decision on which games and products to include under GamStop lies with the Gambling Commission, which decided to cover instant win games under the exclusion scheme some time ago.
This dates back to before Allwyn UK’s tenure as National Lottery operator, a role it assumed in February 2024 after winning the tender contest for the fourth 10-year National Lottery licence in 2022, unseating Camelot UK.
“We wish to reiterate our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to Mr Goff’s family following their tragic loss,” a Gambling Commission spokesperson told SBC News.
“While it is important to note that National Lottery draw-based games are generally lower-risk products relative to other gambling activities and that consumers can already self-exclude from all online National Lottery games directly with the National Lottery operator, following the inquest into Mr Goff’s death, we have been engaging with Gamstop and Allwyn to consider what more could be done to increase consumer protections.”
Low-risk meets high-demand
As the Gambling Commission’s spokesperson noted, National Lottery products are generally seen as being a much lower risk and less associated with problem gambling and gambling-related harm than other products, particularly as opposed to casino gaming and slot games.
This is noted by the Gambling Commission as well as other government bodies.
Back in 2023, for example, Public Health England and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) published a report in which the National Lottery was identified as being the least likely gambling product to be engaged with by people struggling with problem gambling.
However, the Gambling Commission’s Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) has routinely identified the National Lottery as the most popular gambling product in the UK – unsurprising given its ease of access, the life-changing amounts of money to be won, and its role as a good causes fundraiser.
The last GSGB showed that 31% of the UK’s adult population had purchased a National Lottery product at some point over the previous 12 months. National Lottery revenue for the 2025/26 financial year came in at £3.47bn, representing around 20% of the UK’s overall gross gambling yield (GGY) of £17.5bn.
Allwyn and the Gambling Commission find themselves having to balance the line between the National Lottery as a low-risk product and its status as the UK’s most popular form of gambling, which clearly still has the potential to be engaged with by people suffering from gambling harm.
Allwyn UK’s statement continued: “Although National Lottery games are lower risk, we take the protection of our players very seriously. Since becoming operator, we have improved player protections, including the introduction of monitoring of draw-based games, and our safeguarding measures include self-exclusion options, mandatory deposit and spend maximum limits, and daily play caps.”
The Gambling Commission’s spokesperson added: “Since January Allwyn has enhanced its player protection controls in a number of ways and, in the coming months, we will be working with Gamstop and Allwyn to explore the potential for further changes, including the possibility of extending the scope of Gamstop in some form.”
