FOCUS-UK's Branson aims to win lottery licence
(Writes through with details of partners, news conference)
By Jane Barrett
LONDON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Businessman Richard Branson said on Monday that he planned to
challenge incumbent Camelot [LOTT.CN] in the bidding to run Britain's National Lottery and pledged all
profits would go to good causes.
Branson said he had chosen U.S. lottery operator AWI as a partner, joining suppliers including
computer company Compaq (NYSE:CPQ - news), KPMG Consulting and advertising agency J Walter
Thompson (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: WPP.L).
Branson said the suppliers had been selected as leaders in their field and would not be shareholders in
his lottery vehicle, which he has dubbed ''The People's Lottery.'' Branson said the group would operate
separately from his airline-to-cosmetics Virgin [VA.CN] conglomerate.
Branson lost out to the Camelot consortium when the initial licence was awarded to run the Lottery for
seven years from 1994. The new licence will run from October 2001.
Playing the Lottery quickly became a weekly ritual for millions of Britons but Camelot, seeking to retain
the licence, has faced criticism over the size of the profits it has made and salaries paid to its
executives.
Branson said 94 percent of Britain's adult population had played the lottery since 1994 but only 67
percent still play. Surveys had shown more than half those lapsed players would dabble again if they
knew profits all went to good causes.
''Good causes are losing out because of the decline in lottery sales,'' Branson said.
''We have a wealth of ideas to upgrade the lottery, to make it fun to play and arrest the decline in
sales,'' he added.
His organisation plans to review the prize structure with an aim of making a millionaire a day rather than
about 60 a year under Camelot.
The National Lottery Commission has said the next licence holder must replace all retail ticket
terminals, helping to offset claims that incumbent Camelot would be at an unfair advantage in the
bidding.
The bidding process closes in February, with a decision expected in June.
More Quotes and News:
Compaq Computer Corp (NYSE:CPQ - news)
|
