Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Allwyn's revenue doubles after taking over National Lottery operator

Allwyn's revenue doubles after taking over National Lottery operator
iStock image
Getty Images

Allwyn has seen half-year turnover nearly double after snapping up National Lottery operator Camelot and hailing resilient demand despite cost pressures on consumers.

The Czech company reported total revenues of £3.2billion for the six months to June 30, up from £1.6bn a year earlier.


Revenues in the second quarter jumped 115 per cent higher to £1.8bn after its performance was boosted through the takeover of Camelot UK and Camelot Lottery Solutions, which runs the Illinois Lottery, in the first quarter of 2023.

With the newly acquired firm stripped out, Allwyn said revenues rose 12 per cent in the first half to £1.8bn and were 7 per cent higher over the second quarter.

The group said consumer confidence was being affected by the cost-of-living crisis but that its business saw “only a limited impact”. It said demand remained resilient “due to the low price point of our products and low average spend per customer, as well as our large number of regular players”.

Allwyn also said its business has been shielded from much of the wider cost inflation, given that “a significant portion of our costs is directly linked to revenues and the low proportion of energy in our cost base”.

Robert Chvatal, Allwyn CEO, commented, “I am pleased to report that Allwyn delivered another quarter of strong growth, profitability and strategic progress.

“We delivered organic revenue growth across markets, and also saw a further step up in profit and free cash flow generation owing to this being the first full quarter of ownership of our recent acquisitions, Camelot UK and Allwyn LS Group (formerly Camelot LS Group).

“I am happy to report that the good performance in our existing geographies was driven primarily by strong growth in digital, where we have sustained our momentum in product development and innovation.

“Alongside this, we continue to evolve and digitise the customer proposition in physical retail, while during the quarter we once again saw resilience of demand for our products, even in an environment where consumer spending remains under pressure.

“Overall, I am very pleased with Allwyn’s continued progress and believe we are well placed for the rest of 2023 and the next chapters of our growth story.”

More for you

 ATM machine
Brits pull out nearly £80bn from LINK ATMs in 2024
Photo: iStock

Uneven transition: Where cash still clings on in Britain

The UK’s transition away from cash continues to accelerate, nearly five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released today by LINK, the UK's cash access and ATM network.

While the trend towards a low-cash society is clear, the pace of this shift varies significantly across the country, indicating a complex and evolving payment landscape.

Keep ReadingShow less
Warning raised around slush drinks

slush drinks

iStock image

Warning raised against 'poor transparency' around slush drinks

Warnings have been issued against slush ice drinks by medical researchers, saying that poor transparency around slush ice drink glycerol concentration makes estimating a safe dose tricky.

Public health advice on the safe consumption of glycerol-containing slush ice drinks, also known as slushees, may need revising, stated medical researchers after carrying out a detailed review of the medical notes of 21 children who became acutely unwell shortly after drinking one of these products.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rising crime is devastating the Scottish convenience sector.

SGF Crime Report & Safer Business Guide

Photo: iStock

Crime devastating Scottish convenience sector: SGF

Retail crime is on the rise and the impact on staff, businesses and communities can be overwhelming, shows a Scottish retail industry's report released today (13), prompting calls from retailers for urgent support.

Figures published in the SGF Crime Report & Safer Business Guide 2024/25, reveal the appalling escalation in retail crime in recent years is only getting worse, while the sector continues to call for urgent action from government.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK government abolishes Payment Systems Regulator shifting responsibilities to FCA
Photo: iStock

Concerns raised over government's decision to abolish Payment Systems Regulator

As the government has confirmed that it will abolish the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) as part of its drive to cut red tape and boost economic growth, payments platform Ecommpay voiced concerns over the potential risks of dismantling a dedicated regulator at a time of heightened scrutiny in the payments sector.

Willem Wellinghoff, chief compliance officer and UK chair of Ecommpay, acknowledged the government’s commitment to "streamlining regulation, simplifying the amount of regulators that companies have to manage, and fostering economic growth through its deregulatory agenda."

Keep ReadingShow less
Digital wallets are set to account for 33% of in-store payments in the UK by 2030

UK payment landscape cash decline and rise of digital payments

iStock image

'UK embraces digital payments, yet cash remains key'

While digital payments dominate, with digital wallets set to rise to 33 per cent of in-store spending by 2030, traditional methods continue to hold ground in a fragmented UK market, shows a recent report mapping the UK’s payment landscape over the past decade.

According to the 10th edition of the Worldpay Global Payments Report (GPR),, the UK has witnessed a significant decline in cash use over the past decade, with its share of point-of-sale (POS) spending dropping from 32 per cent to 10 per cent between 2014 and 2024, accounting for £128 billion of in-store transactions.

Keep ReadingShow less