GAMBLING INSIDER

The Australian casino operator Crown Resorts is set to release an online lottery product before the end of August. The lottery, which name is to be CrownLotto, will run through the company’s online sports betting arm CrownBet.

This new product will allow players to bet on the outcome of a traditional lottery draw, instead of buying tickets and taking part directly in the draw.

CrownLotto would pay out the prize money equivalent to the jackpot or other prizes, as if the players had bought a winning ticket for a physical raffle.

A spokesman of CrownBet explained that the overall interest in online lotteries was expected to grow and that there is an increase in customer demand. “[The product] will meet the clear and growing customer demand that is driven by huge jackpots in overseas draws,” he said.

The company has announced that CrownLotto’s earnings will be transferred to social and community causes.

After difficult times with economic losses, Australian Crown Resorts aims to reduce the market share of Lottoland, the Gibraltar-based online betting company which went live in Australia last July through a partnership with William Hill.