National Lottery could be SUSPENDED for the first time in its 30-year history

A COURT battle is threatening to force a suspension of the National Lottery.

Operator Camelot is challenging the decision to give the licence to run the game to rival Allwyn from 2024.

The case is expected to take months and even years to resolve — and could lead to the multimillion-pound draws being suspended during any handover in two years.

It could also mean players who land winnings under Camelot will be unable to claim their prizes when it no longer runs the lottery.

And there are grave fears it will directly harm the money for good causes raised by the game.

Allwyn, backed by Czech billionaire Karel Komarek, was handed the lottery licence in March.

Camelot says that the Gambling Commission’s decision is “badly wrong”.

It says there is a risk that it will be run for ten years by an operator who has been “unlawfully appointed”.

The arguments have been spelt out in submissions to the High Court from the Gambling Commission, Camelot and technical partners.

A ruling — expected this week — will resolve whether there will be a suspension of the lottery in February 2024 should the court proceedings remain unresolved.

It will be the first time the game has been suspended in its 30-year history.

The commission insists it ran a “fair and robust” competition for the licence and said there was “regret” that Camelot has gone to court.

Allwyn, which pledged to give £38billion to good causes, has previously said that it was “complying fully with the Gambling Commission on all aspects of the process”.