# Italian-based lottery operator partners with Barnardo’s in bid to win UK National Lottery licence

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/04/19/italian-based-lottery-operator-partners-with-barnardos-in-bid-to-win-uk-national-lottery-licence/
- Published: 2021-04-19T09:19:41+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Italian-based lottery operator Sisal has partnered with Barnardo’s in a bid to
win the licence to run the UK National Lottery, which comes up for renewal in 2023.**

The Gambling Commission is running the competition to find the next, and fourth,
licence holder.

[Sisal](https://www.sisal.com/eng) has 75 years of experience in running lotteries.
The bid is part of its expansion programme, which has already seen it expand from
Italy into Morocco, Turkey, and Spain. It has more than 2,200 employees globally,
and a network of around 50,000 points of sale. In December last year European Lotteries
and the World Lottery Association both renewed the company’s responsible gaming 
certifications for the fourth time in a row, and at the highest level available.
Sisal was also the first Italian company to operate as a government licensee in 
the gambling industry.

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[Barnardo’s](https://www.barnardos.org.uk/) has said that it will use its involvement
in the joint venture to ensure a best practice approach to player protection in 
the UK, improving protections for children and ensuring the lottery draws on best
practice internationally.

Javed Khan, CEO of Barnardo’s said: 

> “We are pleased to be working with Sisal in bidding to revitalise the UK National
> Lottery, which generates substantial funds for worthy causes across the UK. Our
> involvement will strengthen the partnership’s focus on player protection and responsible
> play, whilst deepening understanding of the UK charity sector and how it works
> to make a difference in the heart of local communities.”

Francesco Durante, CEO of Sisal, commented:

> “Sisal was founded seventy-five years ago by three sports journalists who wanted
> to help rebuild Italy’s war-damaged football stadiums and revive community participation
> in sport. By long experience, we know the powerful positive impact games and lotteries
> can have when they are fun to play and they are directed towards serving a good
> cause. “
>  
> “We believe lottery operators have the duty to generate resources in a responsible
> way and should lead the industry in raising the bar for player protection. That’s
> why many years ago we voluntarily developed an approach to player protection far
> beyond what was required by regulation. Our focus is to make the lottery safer
> and an even better source of funds for good causes.”

[Camelot](https://www.camelotgroup.co.uk/) is the current UK National Lottery licence
holder, and has been its operator since the lottery’s launch in 1994. It currently
generates over £30 million each week for National Lottery-funded projects, and in
total, has raised over £42 billion so far with more than 625,000 individual grants
made across the UK.