Here is the latest Digital Matters column. It is written by Tony Ure who is the island's head of e-gaming at the government.

Lotteries are generally viewed as a bit of fun with a potential big win pay out, with players often dream-spending their winnings and handing in fantasy resignations to their boss immediately after buying a ticket.

However, the behind-the-scenes advantages of such a game are largely overlooked.

Lotteries are the oldest and most widespread form of gaming the world over, and their strong association with Governments has cemented their alliance with supporting good causes.

Lotteries run for or by governments can boost the economy, and their support of public programmes such as health and education, public safety, and infrastructure development are unparalleled with most other grant schemes.

In the UK for the year-end March 31, 2019, the National Lottery paid out over £1.6 billion to National Lottery projects, and over £864 million to the UK Government in Lottery Duty, with funds allocated to different causes from the NHS to the Foreign Aid Budget.

expressions of interest

Digital Isle of Man has recently sought expressions of interest from gaming companies to drive forward the concept of a Manx international lottery, an opportunity that would create a brand-new licence supplied by the GSC (Gambling Supervision Commission).

The proposed Manx international lottery would see the exclusive licence issued to an operator under new primary legislation with an annual fee set by the Treasury.

The lottery - which would be playable online - would be run solely by the successful operator, who would be responsible and accountable for the operation of the lottery, guaranteeing prize amounts and ensuring pay outs.

Similarly, the jobs created for the island’s workforce would be commensurate with the size of the operation.

The development of a Manx international lottery would serve to provide numerous benefits to the Isle of Man’s economy.

Establishing the island as gold standard regulator and centre of excellence for lotteries would undoubtedly raise our international profile and help with funding charitable projects, it would also serve to further diversify the growing digital economy here in the Isle of Man, showcasing the innovation and commitment to the sector.

Lotteries are a highly-specialised sector with a thin line between increasing revenues, regulations, and the promotion of good causes.

However, the Isle of Man’s strong position as a centre for e-gaming excellence puts us in a great place to allow the Manx international lottery to flourish while continuing to adhere with the island’s strong player-friendly gaming regulations.

trailblazer

As a trailblazer for e-gaming and technology, we hold a unique space as a credible, trusted, and experienced regulatory authority within a stable and safe country.

Our telecom and data centres - not to mention our general infrastructure - are world class, and we are not limited by EU or Commonwealth restrictions, an advantageous selling point for the e-gaming sector.

Our strong local gaming sector provides a foundation for new gaming and technologies to emerge.

The contract ensures that the successful operator would need to establish the lottery with a real on-island presence, including the associated technical infrastructure such as the draw system, core equipment, and operational staff, the e-gaming industry is as innovative as it has ever been, and it is this innovation which has caused the industry to evolve at a rapid rate.

With the introduction of the Manx international lottery comes renewed conversation on responsible gambling measures, a critical discussion that rears its head at the dawn of new, e-gaming products.

It is this renewal of a well-deliberated conversation that continues progression and proactivity in educating the public on the area of player protection and gambling addiction, and indeed addiction in any form.

impact

It is our job to keep people informed of the emotional and financial impact of addiction, and it is critical to protect players of e-gaming products and maintain positive all-round wellbeing and mental health.

e-gaming in the Isle of Man is legislated by the Online Gambling Regulation Act 2001 (OGRA) and regulated by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC).

The core principles that govern the legislation are to keep gambling crime-free; protect the young and vulnerable; ensure that the services offered by licensees are fair and that players receive their true winnings.

The Government actively encourages the development of gambling and e-gaming businesses on the island, and it remains committed to delivering a stable government and robust regulatory environment.

As one of the first jurisdictions in the world to introduce legislation specifically designed to benefit gambling and e-gaming firms and fully protect customers, it is essential that we allow new opportunities to establish a gaming presence on the island, particularly when e-gaming is one of the island’s most significant economic sectors.

As the e-gaming sector continues to grow we continue to look to diversify the sector.

The current prior information notice for expressions of interest for a Manx international lottery will allow us to garner feedback from industry experts as to the validity, benefits and market potential of such a lottery.

This will in turn guide us as to how we proceed with this concept.

Tony Ure is the government’s head of e-gaming

The concept of a Manx international lottery is being explored