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| Holiday lottery rules 'not clear' | Holiday lottery rules 'not clear' |
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| National Lottery operator Camelot has been criticised for allowing people to buy tickets online while abroad despite them being unable to win any money. | National Lottery operator Camelot has been criticised for allowing people to buy tickets online while abroad despite them being unable to win any money. |
| In countries including Spain and the US it is illegal for Britons to play the UK lottery, making their tickets void. | In countries including Spain and the US it is illegal for Britons to play the UK lottery, making their tickets void. |
| But Camelot's website does not stop them buying tickets and consumer body Which? said the rules were not clear. | But Camelot's website does not stop them buying tickets and consumer body Which? said the rules were not clear. |
| Camelot said it does warn people who buy online, but cannot provide a list of countries where playing is banned. | Camelot said it does warn people who buy online, but cannot provide a list of countries where playing is banned. |
| The National Lottery website can be accessed from anywhere in the world, but in much of Europe, for example, local laws bar people from taking part in foreign lottery draws while on holiday there. | The National Lottery website can be accessed from anywhere in the world, but in much of Europe, for example, local laws bar people from taking part in foreign lottery draws while on holiday there. |
| Tickets void | Tickets void |
| One Briton, Chris Jones, from Tyne and Wear, told the website thisismoney.co.uk that he lost out on more than £5,000 in prize money after buying a National Lottery ticket online while in Majorca. | One Briton, Chris Jones, from Tyne and Wear, told the website thisismoney.co.uk that he lost out on more than £5,000 in prize money after buying a National Lottery ticket online while in Majorca. |
| "What annoys me is that they still accepted my money," he said. | "What annoys me is that they still accepted my money," he said. |
| Stephen McGlade, from Which?, said Camelot must do more to prevent such situations occurring. | Stephen McGlade, from Which?, said Camelot must do more to prevent such situations occurring. |
| What we want to do is make sure that people who are entitled to play, can play, and those that shouldn't be playing, don't play Rob Dwight, Camelot | What we want to do is make sure that people who are entitled to play, can play, and those that shouldn't be playing, don't play Rob Dwight, Camelot |
| "What we'd like Camelot to do is to invest more in the website so it makes it clear to people playing the lottery abroad that it is void with tickets if they purchased them abroad," he told the BBC. | "What we'd like Camelot to do is to invest more in the website so it makes it clear to people playing the lottery abroad that it is void with tickets if they purchased them abroad," he told the BBC. |
| "Secondly, there should be measures in place so that if I am in Spain and I play the lottery, I'm barred from doing so." | "Secondly, there should be measures in place so that if I am in Spain and I play the lottery, I'm barred from doing so." |
| Camelot said it sent warning e-mails to its online players several times a year explaining the situation. | Camelot said it sent warning e-mails to its online players several times a year explaining the situation. |
| Its website also warns that any ticket bought in a country where playing the lottery online is banned will not be valid, but Camelot said it would be impossible to provide a complete list of countries as local laws changed on a regular basis. | Its website also warns that any ticket bought in a country where playing the lottery online is banned will not be valid, but Camelot said it would be impossible to provide a complete list of countries as local laws changed on a regular basis. |
| 'Technology evolving' | 'Technology evolving' |
| Spokesman Rob Dwight said: "We've looked at a range of software options over the years and have actually tested them out and we will continue to do so. | Spokesman Rob Dwight said: "We've looked at a range of software options over the years and have actually tested them out and we will continue to do so. |
| "Obviously, the technology in this area is constantly evolving. What we want to do is make sure that people who are entitled to play can play, and those that shouldn't be playing don't play." | "Obviously, the technology in this area is constantly evolving. What we want to do is make sure that people who are entitled to play can play, and those that shouldn't be playing don't play." |
| Tom Ilube, from online identity experts Garlik, said the system could be easily changed with just a few days work. | Tom Ilube, from online identity experts Garlik, said the system could be easily changed with just a few days work. |
| "Camelot could set up their site so that if, say, you were logging in from Spain, it would put up a warning sign saying: 'You appear to be logging in from this territory, you're not supposed to be using it from here. If you're not, please press continue and carry on,'" he said. | "Camelot could set up their site so that if, say, you were logging in from Spain, it would put up a warning sign saying: 'You appear to be logging in from this territory, you're not supposed to be using it from here. If you're not, please press continue and carry on,'" he said. |
| On its website Camelot warns that any tickets bought in the US or "any other jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to play the Games" will not be valid for any prize claims. | On its website Camelot warns that any tickets bought in the US or "any other jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to play the Games" will not be valid for any prize claims. |
| "The information available at this site is solely for the use of players and prospective players in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man, and is not intended to encourage participation in the National Lottery by persons outside the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man," it says. | "The information available at this site is solely for the use of players and prospective players in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man, and is not intended to encourage participation in the National Lottery by persons outside the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man," it says. |
| Country-specific laws also apply to the EuroMillions draw even though it is a continent-wide lottery. | Country-specific laws also apply to the EuroMillions draw even though it is a continent-wide lottery. |
| Each country has a separate EuroMillions operator, so it is illegal for a UK national to buy a Euromillions ticket in another country by using the Camelot-run website. | Each country has a separate EuroMillions operator, so it is illegal for a UK national to buy a Euromillions ticket in another country by using the Camelot-run website. |
| Anyone who accesses the main EuroMillions site is offered two options - "Buy tickets outside the UK" and "Buy tickets from the UK". | Anyone who accesses the main EuroMillions site is offered two options - "Buy tickets outside the UK" and "Buy tickets from the UK". |
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