£10 Camelot Scratchcards Removed From Sale
Camelot UK Lotteries has announced that it has withdrawn its popular £10 scratchcards from sale in retailers around the country. The move comes as part of a concerted effort from the operator of the National Lottery in the UK to try and address problem gambling.
The plan was originally announced back in the summer but Camelot has confirmed that it has now completed the removal of all £10 scratchcards from sale.
Highlighted as problem
Since their introduction, Camelot have gradually increased the number of different scratchcards available which are easily bought over the counter. Support groups have regularly voiced their concerns over the availability of scratchcards and the temptation they present to those with a gambling problem.
Although Camelot has been quick to point out that there is a very low likelihood of “problem play” occurring as a result of its scratchcard use, the operator decided to withdraw the £10 from sale. This move was prompted by analysis which showed that sale of the higher value scratchcards was more likely in those with a betting problem.
All retailers were ordered to stop selling the £10 cards from 27 September 2019, and told that any leftover cards should be returned to Camelot. This change means that the highest value Camelot scratchcard available is now £5.
A spokesperson for Camelot said that their decision came as part of their commitment to “player protection”, insisting that the Gambling Commission had been happy with the outcome. According to Camelot it’s fewer than 1% of players that have a problem but they still felt it was important to offer them all the protection possible.
Still time to claim
Although the £10 cards can no longer be bought, any winners who haven’t yet claimed their prize are still able to do so. Camelot’s rules stipulate a period of 180 days after the closure of a game to make the final claim, so this provides winners with some breathing space to lodge any outstanding claims.
The changes implemented by Camelot follow news from the government in the summer that it plans to introduce a consultation on scratchcards, with proposals to hike up the age of play from 16 to 18. If given the green light, it would be harder for youngsters to buy scratchcards or play instant win games online until they turned 18.
The government believes these measures will help to shield more vulnerable younger players from the risks of gambling.
