Thunderball

In May 2010 the Commission decided to give permission to Camelot’s proposal to make changes to the Thunderball game. Key changes were:

• An increase in the number of balls from which the main draw is made, from 35 to 39;
• an increase in the top prize from £250,000 to £500,000;
• the addition of an extra prize tier (for matching the Thunderball); and
• an extra draw day on Fridays.

Propriety

As Camelot has a strong track record of running similar Lottery games and that the proposal is to make changes to a game already available we were content that:

• The game would be a legal Lottery;
• it would not damage the National Lottery brand; and
• there was no additional risk of fraud.

Player Protection

Having considered Camelot’s proposal we were conent that:

• Camelot is capable of explaining to players how the changes to the game would effect their chances of winning each of the different prize tiers;
• increasing the top prize would not lead to people playing excessively; and
• the rules on capping arrangements (reduction in prize values in the unlikely event that prizes far exceed sales) strike a fair balance between protecting players’ prizes and the good causes.

Returns to Good Causes

Given that there was no problem with our two primary duties, we considered how much money the game would be likely to raise for good causes. Looking at Camelot’s research we believe that the changes to Thunderball will lead to more money going to good causes.

Decision

Based on information provided by Camelot, our own consideration and taking into account our statutory duties, the Commission agreed to vary the Section 6 licence for Thunderball to allow these changes to the game.

Related downloads

• Thunderball game licence

  Updated October 2010

  (pdf - 132kb)