The bosses at the company who run the UK National Lottery, Camelot, are facing down critism about new changes to way the weekly draw is done. One very controversial ammendment is the addition of 10 extra balls, making the odds of winning 45 million to one, having previously been 14 million to one.
The radical shake up of the lottery is the biggest seen in its 21-year history. The changes are designed to create bigger jackpot total’s as rollovers are more likely. Camelot have also introduced two £1 million raffles each week, guaranting two millionaires whatever the outcome.
It’s not only players that are annoyed with the changes, campaigners fear that larger jackpots will only encourage gambling.
Gambling Reform and Society Perception spokesman Eugene Farrar told The Mirror: “We are concerned that people’s chances of winning have been shortened so they will compensate for this by buying more tickets.”
Main changes:
-Number or balls increases from 1-49 to 1-59 (10 extra balls)
-Odds of hitting a jackpot go up from 1 in 14m to 1 in 45m
-Odds of becoming a millionaire shorten from 1 in 14m to 1 in 10m
-Rollovers to be capped at £50m, rather than after 4 draws
-New Millionaire raffle, with two £1m draws per week
Speaking of the changes, Camelot chief Andy Duncan said: “The intention is to keep the game fresh, not get people to spend more money on a new line.”
“We are offering more chances than ever for people to become a millionaire.”
