Dermot Griffin, the chief executive of the National Lottery, told an Oireachtas briefing that “if offshore, unregulated bet-on-lottery operators” get a significant foothold in Ireland the amount it raised for charities would fall

The National Lottery has said that online lottery companies operating in Ireland could reduce the money it raises for good causes.

Dermot Griffin, the chief executive of the National Lottery, told an Oireachtas briefing that “if offshore, unregulated bet-on-lottery operators” get a significant foothold in Ireland the amount it raised for charities would fall. Bet-on-lottery providers allow users to bet on the result of draws such as the National Lottery or Euromillions.

The criticism was sharply rejected by Lottoland, a bet-on-lottery operator licensed in Ireland. Laura Pearson, the company’s head of corporate affairs, said it was not offshore and that its profits in Ireland were minuscule compared with those of the National Lottery.

Lottoland criticised the National Lottery’s approach to unclaimed prizes. Previously any unclaimed…

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/lottery-cash-for-good-causes-is-threatened-by-online-rivals-7brv05028