Key points
- Thousands of sensitive documents have been accidentally given to N&S lawyers
- The Gambling Commission seems unsure of which documents have been handed over
- A new hearing will be held in March to address this
According to those who attended the procedural hearing on Wednesday, the Gambling Commission handed more than 4,000 sensitive documents to Northern & Shell (N&S) lawyers in what is being described as an ‘unprecedented blunder’.
The issues have been ongoing since the Gambling Commission awarded Allwyn the Fourth National Lottery licence in 2022, marking the first time it has been operated by a company other than Camelot.
Not only did the regulator reject Camelot’s bid as part of this, but also a third proposal from Richard Desmond, a British publisher who produces tabloids such as The Daily Express, celebrity magazines like OK! and a range of adult content, both in print and televised.
After Desmond’s bid for the licence was rejected, his investment group N&S began the process of suing the Gambling Commission for £200m in damages for the way it handled the bidding.
Despite claims from the National Lottery that any payouts may come from funds allocated for charitable and good causes, the high courts have set a trial date for October.
However, during the procedural hearing on Wednesday, it was revealed that Hogan Lovells - the London law firm representing the Gambling Commission - had accidentally given Desmond’s legal team more than 4,000 sensitive documents regarding the lottery licence process.
The Commission has requested that the documents be returned to them, but there’s no guarantee that the judge will enforce this.
It’s also understood that the Commission is unsure which documents were accidentally handed over to the opposing legal team.
Good to know: Northern & Shell operates The Health Lottery, which returns 20% of ticket sale proceeds to local health-related charity and community support groups
While the Commission has asked for a two-month extension to resolve this, Mrs Justice Jefford has given them until next week.
A new hearing for this will be held in early March and the Gambling Commission will be responsible for paying N&S’s costs incurred as a result of this.
