National Lottery confirms change that will affect all players tonight

National Lottery announced that some players will see a significant change from the start of the weekend

National Lottery players will find themselves unable to purchase tickets or collect winnings tonight through to Monday morning while a significant system overhaul takes place. Allwyn, which runs the National Lottery, has announced that the temporary suspension will commence at 11pm on Saturday night – after the Lotto and Thunderball draws conclude – and continue until late Monday morning.

The disruption will affect both the National Lottery website and mobile application, alongside retail outlets, meaning punters will not be able to buy tickets from their usual local shops during this timeframe. Scratch cards will remain available for purchase throughout the period.

National Lottery services still available

Players will still have access to National Lottery results checking facilities until the systems are taken offline. According to Allwyn, this represents the most substantial system enhancement since the lottery’s inception in 1994.

The upgrade follows Royal Mail’s recent implementation of major delivery policy changes affecting millions of households across the UK this week, reports the Mirror.

Among the improvements will be a “fresh new look” for The National Lottery across 43,500 retail locations throughout the UK, plus the introduction of direct bank transfers for retail prize payments – replacing the previous cheque system.

Prize winners will be required to complete online claim forms and upload photographs of their winning tickets. Subsequently, they’ll receive an email containing a secure link for submitting their banking details.

More than 200 new games

Additional playing options will include home delivery services and integration with all Aldi self-service checkouts. The update will also introduce more than 200 new instant-win games.

Andria Vidler, CEO of Allwyn, has expressed her enthusiasm for the transformative potential of their management of The National Lottery, stating: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver The National Lottery that the UK deserves. We’re making unprecedented and much-needed changes, which will move us closer to achieving our vision for The National Lottery, restoring its magic and significantly increasing its positive impact on lives across the UK.”

She further outlined the benefits and temporary inconveniences of the upcoming changes: “These major upgrades will mean short-term disruption for players and our retail partners but they will allow us to deliver on our promise to bring new, exciting games, a better player experience, and our commitment to double returns to Good Causes from £30m to £60m every week by the end of the 10-year licence.”

Allwyn assumed control of the National Lottery from Camelot in 2024, taking over from the company that had been at the helm since the lottery’s inception in the UK in 1994.

Owned by Czech billionaire Karel Komarek, Allwyn Entertainment is a gambling group with operations throughout Europe, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy.