Structure and timetable

We structured the competition for the third licence to achieve the best possible returns for good causes. This involved: 

generating vigorous competition for the third licence, on the basis that this was the best means to generate the greatest returns to good causes; creating a level playing field for all bidders; andproviding greater incentives to increase returns to good causes. p. The main principles of the competition structure were:

a single ten-year licence for the next operator; a single-stage competition process; a simplified evaluation process to increase transparency of the competition, and to limit costs of bidding where practicable;ultimately, awarding the licence to the bidder that was able to support the greatest forecast returns to good causes whilst demonstrating that they could meet other required standards;ensuring the next operator could demonstrate it was able to manage the transition to the third licence transition without any interruption of service; andproviding a 17 month transition period. p. The table below shows the timing of the competition process:

Timetable *End Date*Statement of Main PrinciplesNovember 2005Preparation of draft Invitation to Apply (ITA)April 2006Finalise and issue Invitation to Apply (ITA)June 2006Bids submitted09 February 2007Bids evaluatedend August 2007Licence finalised and awardedend August 2007Transition perioduntil 31 January 2009Start of third licence1 February 2009

Related Links

• Consultation

  We consulted widely throughout the third National Lottery licence competition.

  We published a discussion paper ‘A Lottery for the Future’ in January 2005 and the ‘Summary of responses and areas for further analysis’ in July 2005. We engaged in debate with a wide range of interested parties about the structure of the competition.

• The Preferred Bidder

  Following a rigorous evaluation period, on 7 August 2007 Camelot Group plc was announced as the Preferred Bidder to become the operator of the next National Lottery licence.