National Lottery excludes Pensioner who spent £400 a week

By Dave Sawyer, Last updated Jul 1, 2023

The UK National Lottery has banned a 75 year old pensioner from Hull for three months from being able to partake in the National Lottery draw, excluding his online lottery account citing their ‘Responsible Play’ rules as to why they have taken this action.

The man who has not been named, has according to the Sunday Mirror newspaper had already reduced his spend on the Lottery draw and scratch-cards to £400 a week before the suspension of his account took place. The National Lottery’s site limits spending to £500 a week for all players who have an online account with them.

However, the 75 year old pensioner has complained about the suspension but to no avail and speaking to the press said: “They keep saying it’s part of their duty of care, but I just don’t understand how they can do this.”

“I’m controlling the amounts of money I’m spending, I’ve reduced it from £500, but they’ve blocked my account so I can’t play the lottery online. It’s my money, I should be allowed to do what I want to do with it. I do not accept this. I feel I am being discriminated against. If I was more mobile I’d go to the corner shop and buy any amount of tickets without the shopkeeper restricting me under a duty of care banner.”

“I accept the limits and work within them but I do not accept being prevented from playing online. So I’m not too happy with them. If I was totally housebound and relied on using the internet this would discriminatory. Change the rules and remove the block. If I can control the amount I’m spending and reduce the amounts from the maximum, I’m not addicted am I?”

Hull Live the online newspaper for the area where the man resides have seen an email sent from the National Lottery to the pensioner explaining the reason behind the action they have taken. Part of which reads: “While I recognise that you may not feel that you are spending too much, our behavioural analytics model that monitors all National Lottery accounts has identified that you appear to be playing a lot more than the average player.”

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