Sisal seals BT partnership for its UK National Lottery bid

Italian lottery operator Sisal has advanced its bid for the UK National Lottery by entering a partnership with British telecommunications provider BT.
Image source: Shutterstock

Italian lottery operator Sisal has advanced its bid for the UK National Lottery by entering a partnership with British telecommunications provider BT, according to the Financial Times.

The telecoms group noted that it was Sisal’s “preferred supplier” for communications technology and it would recommend the company on how to “widen the appeal of the National Lottery” and “enhance the online experience for players”.

Sisal CEO Francesco Durante told the Financial Times that BT would manage the lottery’s operations and infrastructure in the UK.

The Fourth UK National Lottery licence competition is underway as the current lottery licence, operated by Camelot, is due to expire in 2023. The fourth licence’s preferred applicant is set to be announced in September this year.

In the competition, which is being run by the UK Gambling Commission, Sisal is competing against current operators Camelot, Sazka Group’s UK identity Allwyn, and India’s Sugal & Damani.

Owned by the private equity group CVC Capital Partners, Sisal was a late entrant in the competition after it delayed announcing its plans to secure its partnership with charity Barnardo’s, who will provide expertise in raising money for good causes in the UK.

Although its bid was announced in April, Durante told the Financial Times it had been in the group’s three-year development plan since he took over in December 2019.

Back in May, Marco Caccavale, Sisal General Manager for Lotteries, spoke to SBC and outlined the Italian suitor’s bid against high-profile competitors.